India need draw in Mumbai Test to replace England from 2nd spot

Dubai, Mar 15 (UNI) Rahul Dravid has moved up to third place in the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen after the nine-wicket win over England in Mohali and a draw in the Mumbai Test is now enough for India to topple England from the second position.

Dravid's scores of 95 and 42 not out, which played a key role in India's success, has lifted him three spots and now only Australia's Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis of South Africa are ahead of him in those rankings.

Virender Sehwag, whose unbeaten 76 secured his side's victory in Mohali, remains unchanged in 10th place but Sachin Tendulkar has slipped three spots to 15th after his solitary innings of four during the second Test.

Anil Kumble's 9-146, including his 500th Test scalp, has eased him up one place to 12th and he is now the leading Indian bowler in the rankings, overtaking Irfan Pathan, according to an ICC release here.

The left-arm fast bowler has slipped two positions to 13th but he has strengthened his hold on fourth spot in the all-rounder's list and is now within striking distance of South Africa's Shaun Pollock.

The news is not quite so good for England. Their defeat means they have to win the final Test to retain their position as the second-placed side in the LG ICC Test Championship table and anything less than victory will see India overtake them.

On top of that, their players are also under pressure in the player rankings. A twin failure for Andrew Strauss in Mohali has seen him slip four places to 21st in the batting list and that means England's only representative in the top 20 is the unavailable Marcus Trescothick, in ninth position.

Kevin Pietersen, who scored a first-innings half-century in the Test loss, holds firm in 24th spot, while acting captain Andrew Flintoff is up six places to 26th after a double of 70 and 51 in a losing cause. Ian Bell is up seven spots to 44th, his highest career ranking to date.

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