Sangakkara closes the gap on number-one ranked Kallis

Kumar Sangakkara has edged closer to regaining the number-one position in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen after hitting an exquisite match-saving double-century against Pakistan in the first Test at Abu Dhabi which concluded on Saturday.

Sangakkara, whose 211 also earned him the man of the match award, has gained 29 ratings points for his excellent effort and he is now just 31 points away from reclaiming the number-one position which is currently held by South Africa’s Jacques Kallis.

Sangakkara, who had surged to the top of the batting table in December 2007, had lost the coveted position earlier this year to India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Kallis after the two batsmen stroked sparkling centuries in the drawn Test in Cape Town.

The biggest mover in the batting table is Taufeeq Umar, the Pakistan opener, who has gained 17 places after his epic 236 which came off 496 balls. The 30-year-old from Lahore is now in 46th position.

Also heading in the right direction are Azhar Ali in 33rd (up by one place), Angelo Mathews in 37th (up by two places), Prasanna Jayawardena in 48th (up by two places), Mohammad Hafeez in 60th (up by six places) and Asad Shafiq in 90th (up by six places). Batsmen losing ground include Mahela Jayawardena, Younus Khan and Tillekeratne Dilshan.

In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers, Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan has rocketed 62 places to 66th position after claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in Sri Lanka’s first innings.

Junaid returned figures of five for 38 and finished the Test with match figures of 45.1-9-121-6. Pakistan’s Umar Gul, who bagged four for 64 in Sri Lanka’s second innings, has returned to the top 20. He is now in 20th position after gaining two places.

The bowlers’ list is headed by South Africa’s Dale Steyn with England’s pair of James Anderson and Graeme Swann in second and third respectively.