South Africans Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram have climbed to sixth and seventh position, respectively, in the latest International Cricket Council’s rankings for Test batsmen released on Monday.

De Kock enjoyed a fine stretch of form in the series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan earlier this year and was recently named Cricket South Africa’s Test Player of the Year.

Markram and De Kock’s elevations are effectively a result of Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne’s climb to eighth spot, after a fourth-innings century against New Zealand in Galle last week.

Captain Faf du Plessis and the recently retired Hashim Amla have remained in 10th and 16th position, respectively. Opener Dean Elgar has stayed in 23rd place, while new vice-captain Temba Bavuma is still 38th.

Australia’s Steve Smith, meanwhile, has moved to second position – behind first-placed Virat Kohli – on the back of successive centuries in the opening Ashes series Test at Edgbaston and a fine 92 in the second at Lord’s.

In the ICC’s rankings for Test bowlers, Proteas stars Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander still occupy second and fourth position, respectively. Australia’s Pat Cummins is placed first and England’s James Anderson third.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn, who recently retired from the longest format of the international game but will remain available for ODI and T20I selection, is in 26th position. Spinner Keshav Maharaj is 24th.

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