Riding on his two centuries against Bangladesh, Sachin Tendulkar
jumped back in the top-20 of the latest LG-ICC Player Rankings for Test cricket
batsmen.
The 34-year-old veteran player scored a hundred in each match, at Chittagong and
Mirpur, compiling a total of 254 runs at an average of 127 to move up six places
to 15th position in the rankings issued today.
With a total of 672 ratings points, Tendulkar has Stephen
Fleming of New Zealand and England's Paul Collingwood in his
sights, although he is a long way off his own career-best rating of 898 set
in 2002.
It was a good series for India's bowlers too with Anil Kumble
moving up to third among Test bowlers. Kumble is now level with South Africa's
Shaun Pollock and is just ahead of Shane Bond of New Zealand and
Australia's Stuart Clark.
Left-arm opening bowler Zaheer Khan, who took a total
of eight wickets at an average of 21.88, moved up five places to 24th in the
rankings, led by Sri Lankan wizard Muttiah Muralidharan. Makhaya Ntini
of South Africa occupies second spot while Kumble and Pollock are joint third.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting leads the Rankings for Test
batsmen, followed by Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf in second spot and England's
Kevin Pietersen third.
Pietersen became just the 21st batsman in history to achieve
a rating in excess of 900 points, thanks to his double century during the second
Test against the West Indies at Headingley.
India is fourth of the ICC Test Championship and is now just
one ratings point behind Pakistan in third position. Australia still tops the
list, well clear of England in second position.
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