Laxman returns to top-20, Ishant also moves up in ICC Rankings

Riding on the match-saving hundred against New Zealand in the second Test, ace batsman VVS Laxman today returned to the top-20 of the ICC Rankings, up six places to 15th in the latest list.

In the rankings for Test bowlers, pacer Ishant Sharma's 3-95 in the drawn match helped him leapfrog Jacques Kallis of South Africa, Pakistan's Danish Kaneria and England's Monty Panesar to a career-best 17th spot.

Laxman struck a fighting unconquered century that helped India salvage a draw in the second Test against New Zealand in Napier yesterday. The stylish right-hander followed up his 76 in India's 305 all out in the first innings with an unbeaten 124 as the tourists finished 476-4 after being forced to follow on.

After his excellent performances with the bat, Laxman jumped six places to put himself in 15th position, just behind Sachin Tendulkar, who contributed 49 and 64 in the match, the ICC said in a statement.

Opener Gautam Gambhir was the highest-ranked India batsman in fifth place and his knock of 137 in the second innings has not only strengthened his current position but has put him within striking distance of fourth-placed Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka.

While Laxman is the only player in the top 20 to make an upward movement, India's stand-in captain Virender Sehwag is the only batsman in the top-20 who has slipped down the ladder. The opener has dropped two places to 17th position after scores of 34 and 22.

The table is still headed by Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies who leads Pakistan captain Younis Khan by a very small margin while Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara is in third position.

Sri Lanka's iconic spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is the still the number-one ranked bowler with South Africa's Dale Steyn in second spot and Mitchell Johnson of Australia in third place.

In the ICC Test Championship table, India will retain its third position behind Australia and South Africa irrespective of how the Wellington Test pans out.

If India wins the match and the series 2-0, it will stay on 118 Ratings Points while New Zealand will also stay on 81 Ratings Points. However, if New Zealand turns the tables on India and wins the Test to square the series, India will slip to 115 Ratings Points while New Zealand will rise to 85 Ratings Points.