Boult moves to top of ICC ODI rankings for bowlers after Bumrah's woeful run

Trent Boult has climbed to the No. 1 spot in the ICC rankings for ODI bowlers despite not featuring in a 50-over game since the World Cup final against England last year.

Boult missed the white-ball fixtures against India at home recently after fracturing his right hand during the Test series in Australia in December.

The New Zealand speedster's surge in the rankings has occurred in the aftermath of previously top-ranked ODI bowler Jasprit Bumrah's mediocre outings against the Black Caps.

Bumrah, who has developed a reputation of being a brilliant exponent of seam bowling, went wicketless as India crashed to their first whitewash in a bilateral ODI series of three or more matches since 1989.

Prior to the New Zealand tour, Bumrah picked up a single wicket in the ODI series against Australia though he delivered economical bowling spells.

Having returned to cricket action following a lengthy period away from the game due to a lower back stress fracture, Bumrah's trademark wicket-taking precision has often been missing in his bowling armoury.

The unorthodox pacer's injury had kept him out of the team for the home series against South Africa, Bangladesh and West Indies.

Despite Bumrah's loss of bowling form in ODIs, he has been included in India's Test squad for the New Zealand series. The 26-year-old's last Test appearance saw him become the third Indian to pick up a Test hat-trick when he registered the feat against West Indies at Kingston.

Among other New Zealand pace bowlers, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson were demoted one spot each in the ODI rankings with Mitchell Starc moving to the eighth position.