Philander moves past Steyn to grab No.1 spot on ICC rankings for Test bowlers

South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander has achieved the coveted No 1 ranking on the ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers after a stellar performance against India in the Johannesburg Test, which ended in a draw on Sunday.

Philander had entered the Test trailing teammate Dale Steyn by four ratings points, and while Philander recorded figures of 4-61 and 3-68, Steyn managed just one wicket, which resulted in Philander gaining 13 ratings points and Steyn conceding 13 ratings points.

According to Sport24, Philander now leads Steyn by 22 ratings points and he would now start the Durban Test as the No 1-ranked bowler in the world for the first time in his career.

The report mentioned that Philander has dislodged Steyn, who had been at the top of table since July 2009 when he went past Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralidaran.

Philander is now the seventh South Africa bowler to claim the number-one rank after Aubrey Faulkner (1914-1921), Hugh Tayfield (1955-1958), Peter Pollock (1969), Allan Donald (1998-1999), Shaun Pollock (1999-2003) and Steyn (2008-2013).

Overall Philander is the 74th bowler to head the Test bowling ranking, the report added.