Kumble gains two places, Dravid steady at 2nd in ICC Test rankings

Dubai, Aug 9 (UNI) Anil Kumble gained two places to be sixth in the bowlers' list while Team India skipper Rahul Dravid hung on to the second spot behind his Australian counterpart Ricky Ponting in the batting table of the latest ICC Test Rankings issued here today.

The veteran Indian leg-spinner now ranks a step above Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar and Kiwi pace spearhead Shane Bond. The only Indian to be close to Kumble in the list is Irfan Pathan who sits steady at 14th in the bowling chart and fifth in the allrounders' table.

In the batting chart, Dravid remained static behind Ponting and his deputy Virender Sehwag is the next in the table at the 14th position.

The Indians continue to be fourth in the Test Championship table, two points behind England.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's vice-captain Younis Khan,has moved up four places in the Rankings for Test batsmen and is now at a career-high third. Mohammed Yousuf remains in fourth spot in the rankings while captain Inzamam has slipped one place to seventh position.

Only Pakistan and Australia have three players in the top 10 of the batting list. Apart from skipper Ponting Australia have Matthew Hayden in sixth position and Michael Hussey in eighth.

England has three players inside the top 20 with its highest-placed representative Kevin Pietersen, up one spot to 11th, acting captain Andrew Strauss at 13th-- and Marcus Trescothick, who lies 15th.

Sri Lanka's captain Mahela Jayawardene has consolidated his position in the top 10 of the Rankings for Test batsmen.

Jayawardene lies 10th in that list, just behind ninth-ranked Kumar Sangakkara, who has slipped down one place.

Muttiah Muralitharan still leads the bowling list after a match haul of 12-225, while team-mate Chaminda Vaas lies 12th.

For South Africa Mark Boucher, climbs eight places in the Test batting list to the 54th position.

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