Ojha breaks into top five of ICC rankings

Dubai : India’s Cheteshwar Pujara and Pragyan Ojha have risen to 24th and fifth spots, respectively, in the ICC Test rankings for batsmen and bowlers.

India defeated England by nine wickets in Ahmedabad, with Pujara picking up the man of the match award for his double century.

As a result, Pujara has rocketed 35 places to 24th position in the rankings. Left-arm spinner Ojha has jumped nine places for his career-best position, propelled by a nine wicket haul in the first Test.

England captain Alastair Cook, who scored a gutsy 176 in his side’s second innings, has returned to the top 10 by rising four places to seventh. Matt Prior has become the fifth England batsman inside the top 20 after achieving a career-best ranking of 18th.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis will enter the Adelaide Test against Australia as the number-one ranked Test all-rounder, while team-mates Hashim Amla and Vernon Philander will have opportunities to top the batting and bowling tables.

While Kallis will be eyeing to cement his number-one spot in the Adelaide Test, Amla will be aiming to leapfrog Sri Lanka’s number-one ranked Kumar Sangakkara, and Philander will have his new ball partner and number-one ranked Dale Steyn firmly within his sights.