Dubai, Jan 1: Indian captain Rahul Dravid slipped three spots to lose his place among the top five Test batsmen in the LG ICC rankings following his string of poor scores in the ongoing Test series against South Africa. Dravid, who has scored just 49 runs at an average of 12.25 in the series so far, is at seventh spot.

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Australian duo of Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey have overtaken Dravid on the ranking ladder. Hayden, who scored a fine 153 in the fourth Ashes Test against England, moved four places to be at sixth position. Hussey has reached his highest ranking to date, up one place to fourth.

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Australian captain Ricky Ponting is starting 2007 at the top, followed by Pakistan batsman Mohammed Yousuf and Kevin Pietersen of England. Australian legends Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, who have announced their retirement, hold on to the third and fourth spots respectively among the bowlers.

Following his five-wicket haul on the final day of the second Test against India, South African paceman Makhaya Ntini has achieved his highest-ever rating points and has strengthened his second position behind Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

India's S Sreesanth has moved into the top 30 among Test bowlers for the first time with another good performance in Durban. Shaun Pollock has moved up one place, past New Zealander Daniel Vettori, into third position among Test all-rounders. The list is still headed by Jacques Kallis of South Africa whereas England's Andrew Flintoff is at third place. (Agencies)