With 2017 coming to end, Indian skipper Virat Kohli remained at the second position as per the latest ICC Test rankings released today following the conclusion of the Melbourne and Port Elizabeth Tests.

Australian skipper Steve Smith continues to be at the top of the table.

However, former captain of the England Test and One Day International teams Alastair Cook jumped nine places up to grab the eight spot. &nbsp;&nbsp;

A splendid double-century by Cook against Australia in the ongoing Ashes helped him finish the year inside the top 10 batsmen in Test rankings.

The 33-year-old scored unbeaten 244 to break the 45-year old record. Cook&#39;s score is the highest by any opener to have carried his bat through an innings surpassing New Zealand opener Glenn Turner&#39;s 223 not out against the West Indies in 1972.&nbsp;

Cook had begun the year in 15th position, while he had entered the Ashes in 10th position.

Meanwhile, Steve Smith&#39;s contributions of 76 and 102 not out has further strengthened his position.

England captain Joe Root improved his ranking, as he moved up one place to join his opposite number from New Zealand, Kane Williamson, in fourth place.&nbsp;

Root and Williamson had started 2017 in third and fourth positions, respectively.

In the bowlers&#39; rankings, there is no change in the top nine with&nbsp; 
the spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Rangana Herath had started 2017 in the top three positions, and have finished at third, fourth and sixth places, respectively.

Australia&#39;s Josh Hazlewood started and finished at the fifth spot.

Australian skipper Steve Smith continues to be at the top of the table.

With 2017 coming to end, Indian skipper Virat Kohli remained at the second position as per the latest ICC Test rankings released today following the conclusion of the Melbourne and Port Elizabeth Tests. Australian skipper Steve Smith continues to be at the top of the table. However, former captain of the England Test and One Day International teams Alastair Cook jumped nine places up to grab the eight spot. A splendid double-century by Cook against Australia in the ongoing Ashes helped him finish the year inside the top 10 batsmen in Test rankings. The 33-year-old scored unbeaten 244 to break the 45-year old record. Cook's score is the highest by any opener to have carried his bat through an innings surpassing New Zealand opener Glenn Turner's 223 not out against the West Indies in 1972. Cook had begun the year in 15th position, while he had entered the Ashes in 10th position. Meanwhile, Steve Smith's contributions of 76 and 102 not out has further strengthened his position. England captain Joe Root improved his ranking, as he moved up one place to join his opposite number from New Zealand, Kane Williamson, in fourth place. Root and Williamson had started 2017 in third and fourth positions, respectively. In the bowlers' rankings, there is no change in the top nine with the spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Rangana Herath had started 2017 in the top three positions, and have finished at third, fourth and sixth places, respectively. Australia's Josh Hazlewood started and finished at the fifth spot.

Virat Kohli remains 2nd in ICC Test rankings, Alastair Cook grabs 8th spot after double-ton

Selectors would have dropped me over poor form, says Alastair Cook&nbsp;

England opener Alastair Cook on Thursday said the situation for him was such where he could have been dropped for the final Ashes Test had he not performed.&nbsp;

Cook&#39;s masterful double-century has put England in a winning position.

England scored 491/9 at stumps, taking a 164-run lead against the hosts on the third day of the fourth Ashes Test match.&nbsp;

The former captain managed to score only 83 runs in six innings before making 244 not out at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test.

&ldquo;(They) would have been entitled just because I literally hadn&#39;t scored a run since Edgbaston,&rdquo; Cook said, referring to his 243 against the West Indies in August.

&ldquo;I always feel I&#39;ve got the backing of the selectors but you&#39;ve still got to deliver the goods, I hadn&#39;t done that on this tour. It was very frustrating,&quot; the 33-year-old added.

With this score, Cook surpassed the highest score by a visiting batsman in a Melbourne Test, bettering the 208 by West Indian Viv Richards in 1984.

The home side had already regained the Ashes urn after they thrashed the visitors by an innings and 41 runs in Perth to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

The former captain managed to score only 83 runs in six innings before making 244 not out

Selectors would have dropped me over poor form, says Alastair Cook England opener Alastair Cook on Thursday said the situation for him was such where he could have been dropped for the final Ashes Test had he not performed. Cook's masterful double-century has put England in a winning position. England scored 491/9 at stumps, taking a 164-run lead against the hosts on the third day of the fourth Ashes Test match. The former captain managed to score only 83 runs in six innings before making 244 not out at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test. “(They) would have been entitled just because I literally hadn't scored a run since Edgbaston,” Cook said, referring to his 243 against the West Indies in August. “I always feel I've got the backing of the selectors but you've still got to deliver the goods, I hadn't done that on this tour. It was very frustrating," the 33-year-old added. With this score, Cook surpassed the highest score by a visiting batsman in a Melbourne Test, bettering the 208 by West Indian Viv Richards in 1984. The home side had already regained the Ashes urn after they thrashed the visitors by an innings and 41 runs in Perth to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Selectors would have dropped me over poor form: Alastair Cook on his double-century

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Virat Kohli remains 2nd in ICC Test rankings, Alastair Cook grabs 8th spot after double-ton

Selectors would have dropped me over poor form: Alastair Cook on his double-century