South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander continues to make an upward
movement in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers after
inspiring his side to an innings and 81 runs victory over Sri Lanka in
the first Test at Centurion.
Philander was not only adjudged man of the match for his maiden
10-wicket haul, he has also been rewarded with a jump of 12 places which
has now put him in the 28th position. The man of the match award was
26-year-old's second in three Tests, who now has 24 wickets to his
credit.
Other bowlers improving their rankings include Chanaka Welegedara (up by
four to 41st), Imran Tahir (up by 17 to 93rd), Thisara Perera (up by 25
to 110th) and Angelo Mathews (up by seven to 111th).
In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen, South Africa's AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher are the biggest movers.
De Villiers, who scored 99, has moved up six places to become South
Africa's second best batsman after Jacques Kallis (second) in seventh
position. Boucher, who scored 65, has gained two places and is now in
50th spot.
Notable batsmen to slip in the latest rankings are Hashim Amla (down by
five to 10th), Graeme Smith (down by one to 12th), Mahela Jayawardena
(down by one to 24th) and Tillekeratne Dilshan (down by three to 36th).
Kumar Sangakkara's rare double failure at Centurion means his lead at
the top of the table has been trimmed from 29 points to just five
ratings points.
