Tendulkar drops to 23rd in ICC Test rankings

Sachin Tendulkar's disappointing performance in Sri Lanka has cost him dear. The master-blaster is out of the top-20 bracket in the ICC rankings for Test batsmen.

Tendulkar, who started the series in 13th position, is now 23rd after scoring only 95 runs in the three-match Test series which India lost 2-1. He drops six places after scores of six and 14 in the third and final Test which Sri Lanka won by eight wickets to clinch the series.

It is his lowest ranking since 1992 after spending over 15 years in the top-20 apart from a very brief spell at the end of 2006.

Tendulkar, who is just 76 runs short of becoming the leading run-getter in Test cricket, last occupied the top batting position six years back after the 2002 Headingley Test in England.

Tendulkar's drop is the only bad news for Indian batsmen as others have made upward progress.

Virender Sehwag has become the highest-ranked Indian batsman after returning to the top 10 for the first time since March 2006. Sehwag, who scored an impressive 344 runs in the series, has moved one place to 10th.

Despite an unimpressive show, VVS Laxman has climbed three places to 15th while Rahul Dravid moved up two places to shared 16th place with England's Alastair Cook.

Sourav Ganguly's rankings has gone up by one place to 25th. Opener Gautam Gambhir, who was the second leading run-getter for his side with 310 runs, is 37th after a jump of 12 places.

For Sri Lanka, Kumar Sangakkara has just missed out on reclaiming the top slot from the West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Sangakkara, who dropped to fifth after the second Test at Galle, has jumped to second position after hitting 144.

Sri Lanka's bowling sensation Ajanta Mendis has jumped to 30th position after making a highly successful Test debut. Mendis took 26 wickets.

Muttiah Muralidaran is still on top of the bowling chart, leading second-placed Australia fast bowler Stuart Clark and third-placed Dale Steyn of South Africa by a comfortable margin.

Top-10 Reliance Mobile ICC Rankings for Test batsmen

Player Country Points

Shivnaraine Chanderpaul WI 890

Kumar Sangakkara SL 886

Mike Hussey Aus 882

Ricky Ponting Aus 880

Mohd Yousuf Pak 880

Mahela Jayawardena SL 837

Matthew Hayden Aus 834

Kevin Pietersen Eng 829

Younus Khan Pak 799

Virender Sehwag Ind 786

Top-10 rankings for bowlers

Muttiah Muralitharan SL 895

Stuart Clark Aus 863

Dale Steyn SA 847

Brett Lee Aus 793

Makhaya Ntini SA 760

Ryan Sidebottom Eng 738

Chaminda Vaas SL 684

Shoaib Akhtar Pak 684

Shane Bond NZ 668

Anil Kumble Ind 653