Ajantha Mendis another unique feat

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Sri Lanka's mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis has performed another unique feat having stormed into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Player Rankings for the first time following his heroics in the opening test match against India.

Mendis has jumped into the 51st place in the ICC Player Rankings for the best bowler after he returned a matchbag of eight wickets for 132 runs while playing in his maiden test match at the SSC grounds.

Mendis' spin partner Muttiah Muralitharan of course continue to head the bowling list after he took a matchbag of eleven wickets for 110 in the same match while further extending his advantage over the second placed Dale Steyn of South Africa.

Champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan also achieved another milestone when he topped the 900 point mark in the ICC Player Ratings for the best bowler.

This is a tremendous effort considering the fact that only 19 players have so far gone beyond that tally in the 131 years of test history.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka vice captain Kumar Sangakkara has dropped into the second place in the ICC Player Rankings for test batsmen after his disappointing performance with the bat in the opening match against India.

The stylish left-hander who climbed into the top of the rankings in December last year during the home series against England, scored only 12 runs in Sri Lanka's huge first innings total of 600 for 6 declared. As a result he has slipped into the second place which he now shares with Australia's Mike Hussey.

West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul has benefited from Sangakkara's failure to lead the batting rankings for the first time in his career.

However the margin of difference between the pair is so small that Sangakkara could regain his number one position with a solid performance with the bat when the second test match gets under way at the Galle International Stadium on Thursday.

In addition Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardena was able to move further up three places to sixth and has reached his career best rating of 847 following his splendid knock of 136. Tillekeratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera and Malinda Warnapura have also gained valuable places following their centuries.

Dilshan has climbed seven places to 29th, Samaraweera has lifted eight places to 37th and Warnapura occupies the 48th position after jumping 27 spots.