Murali returns to top spot

Sri Lanka spin wizard Muttiah Muralidaran's 9-141 in his side's eight-wicket win against Bangladesh in Chittagong not only took him to a combined total of 1004 wickets in Tests and ODIs but it has also taken him back to the top of the LG ICC Test Rankings.

Muralidaran has overtaken Glenn McGrath at the summit of the listings for bowlers, with the Australian slipping to second place while another Australian, Shane Warne, remains in third spot.

Muralidaran is one of two Sri Lanka bowlers in the top 20 along with the resting Chaminda Vaas (6th) while Lasith Malinga, who took four wickets in Chittagong, is now 36th and Malinga Bandara is 58th. Both players are moving up the list and both have their best-ever haul of rating points.

Sri Lanka have two players in the top 20 batting places with acting captain Mahela Jayawardene in 13th position and Kumar Sangakkara 19th.

Sri Lanka cannot move up the table, even with a win in Bogra to go with their success in Chittagong, but victory in the second Test would earn them one rating point which would move them up to 97, just two points behind sixth-placed South Africa.

ICC media release