Tendulkar rises to 15th, India 4th in ICC Test rankings

Dubai, May 29 (UNI) Back-to-back centuries in Bangladesh has seen Sachin Tendulkar jump six places to 15th in the latest LG ICC Test rankings issued today.

The 34-year-old maestro compiled 254 runs at an average of 127 with two tons at Chittagong and Mirpur to re-enter top 20 from the previous 21st with 672 ratings points to his kitty 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 veteran leggie Anil Kumble moving up to third in Test bowlers chart. 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 was also in great form taking a total of eight wickets from two Test at an average of 21.88 including 5-34 in the first innings of the second Test at Mirpur which set up victory for India.

As a result, he has moved up five places to 24th and is closing in on Andre Nel of South Africa and New Zealand's Chris Martin.

Muttiah Muralitharan is still on top of the rankings for Test bowlers, followed by Makhaya Ntini of South Africa in second place with Kumble and Pollock joint third.

Amomg batsmen, Australia captain Ricky Ponting leads from Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf in second spot and England's Kevin Pietersen third.

Following his double century during the second Test against the West Indies at Headingley, Pietersen became just the 21st batsman in history to achieve a rating in excess of 900 points.

Meanwhile, India is fourth in the LG 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.

LG ICC Test Championship: 1. Australia (135); 2. England (114); 3. Pakistan (108); 4. India (107); 5. Sri Lanka (102); 6. South Africa (102); 7. New Zealand (93); 8. West Indies (72); 9. Zimbabwe (28); 10. Bangladesh (1) Top 10 Batsmen: 1. Ricky Ponting (Aus) 936; 2. Mohammad Yousuf (Pak) 915; 3. Kevin Pietersen (Eng) 909; 4. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) 857; 5. Michael Hussey (Aus) 842; 6. Matthew Hayden (Aus) 828; 7. Jacqes Kallis (SA) 820; 8. Rahul Dravid (Ind) 801; 9. Younis Khan (Pak) 789; 10. Ashwell Prince (SA) 755; Top 10 bowlers: 1. Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) 913; 2. Makhaya Ntini (SA) 856; 3. Anil Kumble (Ind) 730; 3. Shaun Pollock (SA) 730; 5. Shane Bond (NZ) 722; 6. Stuart Clark (Aus) 720; 7. Mohd Asif (Pak) 710; 8. Matthew Hoggard (Eng) 708; 9. Shoaib Akhtar (Pak) 698; 10. Andrew Flintoff (Eng) 694; Top 10 All-rounders: 1. Jacques Kallis (SA) 462; 2. Andrew Flintoff (Eng) 399; 3. Shaun Pollock (SA) 356; 4. Daniel Vettori (NZ) 328; 5. Chaminda Vaas (SL) 252; 6. Irfan Pathan (Ind) 244; 7. Chris Gayle (WI) 236; 8. Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) 206; 9. Brett Lee (Aus) 201; 10. James Franklin (NZ) 200; UNI