Dubai, Jul 3 (IANS): India's veteran batsman V.V.S. Laxman and speedster Ishant Sharma Sunday broke into the top-10 of the world rankings following their stellar performances in the drawn second Test against the West Indies at Bridgetown, Barbados.
The 36-year-old from Hyderabad, who hit 85 and 87 in a low-scoring match, has gained seven places to sixth position in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Test batsmen rankings, the highest of his career. In the process, he has moved above such luminaries as Virender Sehwag and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who both lose ground in the latest rankings.
The top five remain unchanged with Jacques Kallis of South Africa still leading the way ahead of India's Sachin Tendulkar in second position. Sehwag and Tendulkar, who are not playing in the West Indies series have fallen back because a player loses one per cent of his ratings points for every Test he misses.
Sharma's jump in the bowlers' rankings is a result of his 10-wicket haul at Bridgetown. With match figures of 41.2-11-108-10, Sharma as gained four places to seventh position, overtaking team-mate Harbhajan Singh and making him the second highest-ranked India bowler at the moment behind Zaheer Khan, who is fifth.
The Bridgetown Test was a productive match for the West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards as he returned to the top-20 following an eight-wicket haul.
South Africa leads the way in the bowling chart as well, with speedster Dale Steyn top of the list, followed by England off-spinner Graeme Swann.
There was no change in the top five of the Test all-rounders rankings with Kallis leading the way, followed by New Zealand's Daniel Vettori.
Batsmen rankings:
Rank Player Team
1 Jacques Kallis SA
2 Sachin Tendulkar Ind
3 Kumar Sangakkara SL
4 Jonathan Trott Eng
5 Alastair Cook Eng
6 VVS Laxman Ind
7 Virender Sehwag Ind
8 Thilan Samaraweera SL
9 AB de Villiers SA
10 Shivnarine Chanderpaul WI
Bowlers:
1 Dale Steyn SA
2 Graeme Swann Eng
3 James Anderson Eng
4 Morne Morkel SA
5 Zaheer Khan Ind
6 Mitchell Johnson Aus
7 Ishant Sharma Ind
8 Harbhajan Singh Ind
9 Shakib Al Hasan Ban
10 Daniel Vettori NZ