Laxman returns to top 10 in ICC rankings

Veteran Indian batsman VVS Laxman rose seven places to a career-best sixth in the ICC Rankings for Test batsmen after playing two crucial half centuries in the drawn match against the West Indies in Bridgetown.

The 36-year-old from Hyderabad, who hit 85 and 87 in a low-scoring match, has moved above compatriot 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 Sachin Tendulkar in second postion.

Sehwag and Tendulkar, who are not playing in the West Indies, have fallen back because a player loses one per cent of his ratings points for every Test he misses.

The news is also good for 10-wicket hero Ishant Sharma who has broken into the top-10 of the Rankings for Test bowlers following his stellar performance here.

With match figures of 41.2-11-108-10, Ishant gained four places to seventh, overtaking teammate Harbhajan Singh in the process and making him the second highest-ranked India bowler at the moment.

It was a productive match for West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards as he returned to the top-20 following an eight-wicket haul in the Test, the ICC said in a statement.

South Africa leads the way in the bowling chart, too, 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 Rankings for Test all-rounders with Kallis leading the way, followed by New Zealand's Daniel Vettori.