South Africa spinner Paul Harris has shot into the top 10 of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers after taking nine wickets during his side’s victory in the third and final match of the series against Australia in Cape Town.
Harris finished with match figures of 59.5-14-161-9 as South Africa romped to an innings victory at Newlands and has gained no fewer than 14 places in the rankings as a result. He now sits in eighth place, the highest ranking of his career to date.
This win for South Africa could not save the series, which Australia won 2-1, but it did cement its second place in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship. Had it lost the series 3-0, it would have fallen below India in the rankings just in time for the annual cut-off date of 1 April.
Each year, the team leading the Test Championship on 1 April wins US$175,000 with the runner-up collecting US$75,000.
As it stands now, even if India wins its three-match series with New Zealand 3-0, it will remain in third place, behind South Africa by a fraction of a ratings point.
Harris was the main mover in the top 20 of the bowling rankings, which are still headed by Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralidaran. South Africa’s Dale Steyn is closing the gap though and is now just 11 ratings points behind in second place with Australia’s Mitchell Johnson drifting off the pace slightly in third position.
Not surprisingly, India and South Africa have made big strides in the batting rankings following their comprehensive victories in recent days.
Gautam Gambhir has gained four places and has broken into the top five in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen for the first time in his career. Gambhir scored 72 and 30 not out in the match against New Zealand in Hamilton, which India won by 10 wickets.
There were gains, too, for Sachin Tendulkar, whose 160 in the first innings help to set up India’s big total of 520. He has moved up four places to 14th position.
Ashwell Prince (up four places to 11th position), AB de Villiers (up four to 12th) and Jacques Kallis (up one to 10th) are South Africa’s main movers.
The news is not so encouraging for everyone. India’s Virender Sehwag loses three places to 15th position, Michael Hussey of Australia slips four places to 17th, Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke is down three spots to ninth and his skipper loses three places and now sits in seventh position in the rankings.
The top three batsmen remain unchanged with Shivnarine Chanderpaul leading the way from Pakistan’s Younus Khan in second spot and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara in third.
Australia’s Mitchell Johnson moves up to second place in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders. His outstanding contribution with the bat during the third Test, when he scored 35 and 123 not out, have moved him up one place, past New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori. However, he is still a long way behind Kallis who remains way out in front in first place.
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