Kohli faces new rankings threat

Virat Kohli's reign as the top ranked Test batsman is in serious danger, after the latest ICC rankings were released on Tuesday.

Kohli could manage scores of just three and 34 during the first Test against Australia in Adelaide and his lead at the top of the ICC rankings has been reduced to just seven points.

The India captain has held on to the top ranking since the Edgbaston Test against England earlier this year and he will be keen for runs against Australia in Perth to ensure he hangs on to the top mantle.

The latest threat to Kohli is in-form New Zealander Kane Williamson, who closed within striking distance of the top spot after the Indian captain shed 15 points on the rankings.

Williamson shone with scores of 89 and 139 during the third Test between New Zealand and Pakistan in Abu Dhabi as he helped his side clinch their first Test series against an Asian nation in almost 50 years.

The New Zealander rose above Australia's Steve Smith and into second spot in the rankings following his two big scores and, in the process, became the first batsman from his country to break through the 900-point barrier.

Smith remains third in the Test rankings, while India's Cheteshwar Pujara jumps two spots and into fourth following excellent knocks of 123 and 71 against Australia.

England captain Joe Root rounds out the top five ranked batsman, with Australia's David Warner dropping to sixth following his absence from the Test side due to suspension.

South Africa paceman Kagiso Rabada remains narrowly ahead of England's James Anderson as the top ranked bowler on the ICC rankings, with Ravi Ashwin, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc all moving places following the Adelaide Test.

Ashwin jumped to sixth and subsequently bumped Cummins down to seventh following six Australian scalps during the first Test, while Starc rose two places to 16th for his five Indian wickets.