 India, Pathan move up in ICC rankings
Dubai, Dec 22: The 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka has taken India to their best ever ranking of two in the latest ICC Test Championship table while Irfan Pathan broke into top five of all-rounder rankings released here today. It was the first time India have reached that high in the four-and-a-half-year history of the official ICC Test Championship race since it was launched in May 2001.
Having overtaken England, India are now just 13 points behind Australia and that margin could be cut rapidly over the next two months, the ICC said in a statement. If Ricky Ponting's Australians draw their three-match home series against South Africa, then the gap will be just 11 points and if the Proteas win that series it will be reduced to eight or nine points, depending on whether Graeme Smith's side secure a 1-0 or 2-0 success.
India also have the chance to claw back some of Australia's lead at the top of the table as they head to Pakistan for a three-Test series of their own in the New Year. In the LG ICC Test Player Rankings the news is just as good for India with Irfan Pathan once again capturing the headlines. The left-hander closed the gap to the top three all-rounders -- Jacques Kallis, Andrew Flintoff and Shaun Pollock.
In the batting list, India can bask in the continued presence of three of their batsmen in the top ten. (Agencies)
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