South Africa receive rankings boost

RANKINGS: South Africa have climbed above New Zealand into fifth place in the ICC test rankings following the Proteas' 2-0 series victory over the Black Caps.

The International Cricket Council announced the standings on Monday, one day after South Africa had defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the third and final test in Johannesburg. Australia remain well clear in top spot on 131 points, ahead of England (113), India (111) and Pakistan (109) with South Africa (101) moving four points clear of New Zealand.

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith also enjoyed a boost in the player rankings, rising five places to 19th in the batsmen's standings following his two half-centuries in the final New Zealand test. However, all-rounder Jacques Kallis paid the penalty for a poor final test when he fell behind India's Rahul Dravid into third place.

Australia's Ricky Ponting retained top spot by a comfortable 89-point margin. In the bowling rankings, the top 10 players were unchanged with Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan heading the list, ahead of South Africa's Makhaya Ntini and Australia's Shane Warne. Despite taking a 200th test wicket in the New Zealand series, Kallis also fell behind England's Andrew Flintoff at the top of the all-rounder rankings.

Flintoff will captain an injury-depleted England in the first of three tests against Sri Lanka starting at Lord's on Thursday.

DUBAI, Monday, Reuters