Smith concedes top spot

Steven Smith has conceded the top spot in the Test batting rankings after an underwhelming display in the first Ashes Test against England in Cardiff where he made twin scores of 33 in Australia's 169-run defeat.

He is replaced in the No. 1 position by AB de Villiers, who is skipping South Africa's forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh for paternity leave, while Joe Root has moved into the top five for the first time in his career - as has Stuart Broad in the bowling list - after a Man-of-the-Match display in Cardiff where he scored 134 and 60.

Root, who since returning to the Test side in June last year has made 1512 runs at 84.00, is just seven points behind Hashim Amla in third position and 24 behind de Villiers' mark.

Smith twice got himself settled in the opening Test, but fell to Moeen Ali in the first innings, getting into a tangle against a delivery angled down the leg side and looping a catch to short mid-on, then edging Broad to second slip in the second innings.

The top of the bowling rankings remains unchanged with Dale Steyn having a significant advantage on James Anderson in second position, but Broad has achieved a career-best figure after taking five wickets in Cardiff including a defining burst on the fourth day when he removed Smith and Michael Clarke after lunch.

The other two spots in the top five of the bowling rankings are taken by Pakistan's Yasir Shah and New Zealand's Trent Boult.