ICC rankings: Tendulkar jumps to third position after historic innings

New Delhi, Feb 25(ANI): Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar has jumped to third position in the International Cricket Council (ICC) player rankings for ODI batsmen after belting a record-breaking double-century in Wednesday's second ODI against South Africa in Gwalior.

Tendulkar, who returned undefeated on 200 in his 442nd appearance, has lifted three places and now trails second-placed Australian batman Mike Hussey by 43 points with India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni strengthening his position at the top of the rankings after hitting a destructing 68 not out off 35 balls.

It is Tendulkar's highest ranking in two years after he had reached second position following an unbeaten 117 against Australia in Sydney.

While the 36-year-old has vaulted into third position, his fellow opener Virender Sehwag has dropped one place to 10th position.

Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir have also slipped in the latest rankings after missing the two ODIs due to injuries.

A player loses one per cent of his ratings points for every match missed and as such, Yuvraj has fallen one place to 13th spot while Gambhir has dropped two places to 21st spot, a position he shares with team-mate Virat Kohli.

AB de Villiers remains South Africa's highest-ranked batsman in fourth position after stroking an unbeaten 114 in Gwalior.

Jacques Kallis has retained his 11th position, but Herschelle Gibbs has slipped one place to 16th spot.

In the ICC player rankings for ODI bowlers, South African fast bowler Dale Steyn has slipped two places to 13th spot after Tendulkar's Gwalior onslaught.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori leads the bowling table with Zimbabwe's Ray Price in second position.

In the ICC ODI Championship, India has all but cemented second position after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead. It is now on 123 ratings points while South Africa has slipped to 115 ratings points.

The only way India can finish third at the annual cut-off date of April 1 is if it loses Saturday's match and New Zealand makes a clean sweep of the five-ODI series against Australia starting in Napier on March 3. In that scenario, New Zealand will jump to 123 ratings points while India will finish on 122 ratings points.

On the other side of the coin, if India wins on Saturday then irrespective of how New Zealand and Australia series pans out, India will finish second on 124 ratings points.

Australia has already sealed the number-one position with 134 ratings points and can only drop to as low as 128 ratings points if it loses all the five ODI against New Zealand. (ANI)