A poor test match against Sri Lanka in Galle has seen Blackcaps captain Kane Williamson drop behind a concussed Steve Smith in the ICC test batting rankings.
Smith is now second, having risen above Williamson in the latest update.
The right-handed Australian is now only nine ranking points behind India maestro Virat Kohli, who will be in action later this week when his team start a two-test series in the West Indies.
Smith reaffirmed why he is widely regarded as the world's best batsman with two tons in the first Ashes test, then scoring 92 at Lord's, an innings that was overshadowed by a frightening blow to his neck.
Australia's former skipper retired hurt on 80 after being struck by a Jofra Archer bouncer.
Smith returned to bat on Saturday after passing concussion tests but was withdrawn from the match the following morning, having woken up with a headache and other concussion symptoms.
Smith has scored 378 runs at 126 this series, while the other members of Australia's first-choice top six have combined for 406 runs, but he is an unlikely starter for the third test later this week.
Williamson had one of his poorest test results ever, producing just four runs across two innings on a spin friendly wicket in the subcontinent, but will have a chance to bounce back when the second test gets underway on Wednesday in Colombo.
Teammate Henry Nicholls has kept his spot at No.5 in the batting rankings.
TEST BATTING RANKINGS
- Virat Kohli
- Steve Smith
- Kane Williamson
- Cheteshwar Pujara
- Henry Nicholls
12th-Ross Taylor, 13th-Tom Latham
TEST BOWLING RANKINGS
- Pat Cummins
- Kagiso Rabada
- James Anderson
- Vernon Philander
- Ravindra Jadeja
6th-Neil Wagner, 7th-Trent Boult, 12-Tim Southee
AAP/Newshub.
