A 2-0 series win over New Zealand have earned South Africa one rating
point and has lifted them to 124 points, while opening a six-point lead
against second-ranked England. Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar is the lone
Indian batsman in the top 20 list of ICC rankings for Test batsmen
With 653 points to his credit, Tendulkar has gained a spot to be at
number 19 in the table, which is headed by Michael Clarke of Australia.
However, South Africa's Hashim Amla has moved within a striking distance
of claiming the number one position for the first time in his career
after he moved up a place to second.
Amla is just one rating point behind Aussie captain Clarke and will
have a shot at the coveted position when South Africa take on Pakistan
in the first Test of the three-match series in Johannesburg starting
February 1. In contrast, Clarke will return to the Test arena only on
February 22 when Australia face India in the first Test of the
four-match series in Chennai.
The bowlers' table figures three Indians -- Pragyan Ojha (9th spot),
Zaheer Khan (15th) and Ravichandran Ashwin (20th) -- all of whom have
managed to maintain their respective places in the list. South African
pacer Dale Steyn still tops the list. He has further consolidated his
lead after spells of five for 17 and three for 48 against New Zealand in
final Test.
Steyn has opened up 45 ratings points gap with team-mate and
second-ranked Vernon Philander, who lost one per cent of his ratings
point for missing the second Test due to injury. (PTI)
India retained number five position, while South Africa further consolidated their lead as per the latest ICC Test Championship rankings issued Tuesday. India, who last played a three-Test series in December against England, losing 1-2, also maintained their ratings point Cricket
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