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Steyn joins Muralitharan on top of bowling rankings

07/04/2008

South Africa's Dale Steyn has joined Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan as the highest ranked bowler in Test cricket.

Steyn has taken 12 wickets in his last three innings against India to help his team take a 1-0 lead in their current three-match series and his good form has also helped him rise up the rankings.

Muralitharan has been on top of the bowling rankings since 2006 but dropped below 900 points for the first time in almost two years.

With one more Test still to be played between India and South Africa, and with the Proteas dominating the series, Steyn could move ahead of the Sri Lankan after the match in Kanpur.

Australian duo Stuart Clarke and Brett Lee are the third and fourth-ranked Test bowlers, while Steyn's South Africa team-mate Makhaya Ntini is fifth.

Following his career-best figures against New Zealand recently Ryan Sidebottom is England's highest ranked bowler in tenth place.

Mike Hussey tops the batsmen's rankings after Kumar Sangakkara dropped from first place down to fourth following a disappointing run in the Test series against West Indies.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting and South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis share second place – 13 points behind Hussey.

Indian Virender Sehwag has moved into 13th place after his innings of 319 in the first Test against South Africa while Kevin Pietersen is England's highest ranked batsman in tenth place.

Despite having been out injured for much of the last year Andrew Flintoff remains in third place in the all-rounder rankings.