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Hussey back on top after first Test heroics

14/10/2008

Australia's Mike Hussey has returned to the top of the Test batsman's world rankings after scoring a century in his side's first innings of the first Test in India.

Hussey scored a total of 177 runs in the match, including 146 in the first innings, as Australia narrowly missed out on a victory in the opening Test of the four-match series in Bangalore.

The 33-year-old had gone into the series in third place, behind Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and the ICC's 2008 cricketer of the year Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies.

But his form on the sub-continent has moved him back atop the standings, a position he held briefly during Australia's tour of the Caribbean earlier this year.

Despite also scoring a century in the same innings - his maiden ton on Indian soil - captain Ricky Ponting remains fourth in the world rankings.

However, his form has seen him close the gap on the top three.

Ponting and Hussey are two of four Australian batsmen in the top 15 in the world, with Matthew Hayden ninth, despite slipping two spots, and Michael Clarke now 15th after dropping from 13th.

Indian pace bowler Zaheer Khan was named man of the match in the first Test after taking a total of six wickets and returning figures of 5-96 in the first innings.

And he has been rewarded with a seven-spot rise up the Test bowling rankings to 11th overall.

After a wicketless match, despite bowling 51 overs, India captain Anil Kumble suffered the opposite fate - sliding eight spots from tenth to 18th.

Fellow spinner Muttiah Muralidaran of Sri Lanka stays top, with Australia's Stuart Clark second and Dale Steyn of South Africa in third.