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Cricket

South Africa get early advantage over England

08/07/2008

South Africa are the main beneficiary of the latest annual update of the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table.

Graeme Smith's side, who begin a four-match Test series against England on Thursday, have leapfrogged both India and England to move into second place in the rankings, although they still remain some way behind Australia.

England drop into fourth position after they could only draw the three-Test series with New Zealand earlier this summer.

There was more good news for South Africa when it emerged that 25-year-old fast bowler Dale Steyn has moved into second place in the ICC bowling ranking.

Steyn became the fastest South African ever to reach 100 wickets in Test matches earlier this year, and now sits behind only Muttiah Muralitharan in the table.

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara heads the batting rankings while another South African, Jacques Kallis, leads the all-rounders.