Pakistan hero Yasir Shah tops ICC rankings

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah has knocked England's James Anderson off the top of the International Cricket Council Test rankings in the aftermath of his match-winning heroics at Lord's.

The 30-year-old, who picked up 10 wickets at Lord's to guide the visitors to a 75-run win in the first test on Sunday, is followed by Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and the England pace duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Mushtaq Ahmed was the last bowler from Pakistan to top the rankings since in December 1996.

Yasir's first innings figures of 6-72 were the best recorded by a visiting spinner against England at Lord's since Sid Pegler's 7-65 for South Africa in 1912.

The 30-year-old climbs from number four to the top of the ICC bowlers' rankings following his 10 for 141 figures against England, which included Sunday's second-innings figures of four for 69.

Remarkably, Yasir's superb display came in his first Test outside of Asia and the United Arab Emirates.

Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, had reached number one for the first time after his brilliant series against Sri Lanka earlier this year.

But the pace bowler was controversially left out of England's squad for the first Test against Pakistan as the selectors opted for a cautious approach while he recovers from a shoulder injury.

Anderson is expected to be back in the England squad, set to be announced on Monday, for the second Test on his home ground at Old Trafford this week.

Australia's Steve Smith maintains his top spot in the test batsman rankings ahead of New Zealand's Kane Williamson.

Australia and India currently take the top two places in the test team rankings, while Pakistan and England are third and fourth respectively.   

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