England fast bowler Stuart Broad has become the No 1 ranked Test bowler in the world after producing a Man of the Match performance at the Wanderers.
The result, in which South Africa lost by seven wickets, has also confirmed that India will replace South Africa as the top-ranked Test side when the ICC Test Championship table is updated at the end of the Centurion Test.
Broad had entered the Johannesburg Test in third position on 853 points but, after figures of 2-82 and 6-17, the 29-year-old earned 27 points to leapfrog Ravichandran Ashwin of India and South Africa’s Dale Steyn into the top position. Broad now sits on 880 points and leads the India spinner by nine points.
Broad is the first England bowler since Steve Harmison to top the ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers. Harmison had reached the top in 2004 and stayed there for 120 days. Before Harmison, Ian Botham had achieved the number-one ranking in 1980.
Broad has gained four places after earning 40 points since arriving in South Africa as he has picked up 15 wickets in three Tests to date.
The only good news for South Africa is the movement of Kagiso Rabada. The fast bowler took 5-78 in the first innings, which means he has vaulted 28 places to 74th in the latest rankings.
South Africa’s Dean Elgar and Jonny Bairstow have also made gains in the latest rankings. Both the batsmen have moved up two places each with Elgar now in 26th position and Bairstow joining Faf du Plessis in 30th spot.
Meanwhile, when the ICC Test Championship table is updated following the conclusion of the Centurion Test, to be played from 22-26 January, India will replace South Africa as the No 1-ranked Test side.
South Africa can still achieve second position if they win the Centurion Test. If the Test ends in a draw, the Proteas will drop to third position behind India and Australia, while a 3-0 series loss will result in them finishing in fourth place behind India, Australia and Pakistan.
ICC Test rankings for bowlers
| Rank | (+/-) | Player | Team | Points |
| 1 | (+2) | Stuart Broad | Eng | 880 |
| 2 | (-1) | Ravi Ashwin | Ind | 871 |
| 3 | (-1) | Dale Steyn | SA | 850 |
| 4 | (-) | Yasir Shah | Pak | 846 |
| 5 | (-) | James Anderson | Eng | 810 |
