News
21 Jan 2012, 06:24 pm
Summary
Batsman, bowler only Indians in ICC top ten rankings
Dubai, Jan 21: The Indian team's bad run in Australia is reflected in the latest ICC Test rankings released on Friday; master batsman Sachin Tendulkar and pacer Zaheer Khan are the only Indians to feature in the top 10 batting and bowling lists.
While Tendulkar is stable at the No. 9 position in the batting list, Zaheer Khan has slipped down one position and is currently placed ninth on the bowling charts.
After his 10-wicket haul against England, Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has become the world's highest-ranked spinner. His second 10-wicket haul in his 18th Test for Pakistan has helped Saeed jump nine places, surpassing England's off-spinner Graeme Swann who has slipped one position to fourth, as per the ICC statement. With 117 points, Saeed now trails England pacer, No. 2-placed James Anderson, by 37 ratings points while his spin partner Abdur Rehman has also achieved a career-best ranking. The left-arm spinner's four-for has now earned him 14th position on the list.
South African pacer Dale Steyn continues to enjoy pole position, leading the charts by a huge margin.
In the batting charts, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell have slipped down two and three spots respectively. Younus Khan has gained two spots to rise to No. 4, captain Misbah-ul-Haq has gained three spots and is sitting on No. 14 while Mohammad Hafeez has leapt 15 places to sit at 30. Taufeeq Umar has reached No. 32 while wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal is on the 70th spot.
England players, too, have felt the impact of poor performances; Kevin Pietersen and captain Andrew Strauss have fallen six places each and now are placed at No. 16 and 34 respectively. The only England batsmen to gain in rankings are wicketkeeper Matt Prior on the 18th spot (up by one) and Swann in the 64th spot.
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara leads the batting charts. South Africa's Jacques Kallis is just four ratings points behind in second position while AB de Villiers is in the third spot, 24 rating points ahead of Younus at No. 4.



