SA in West Indies
Progress for SA's AB
2010-06-30 13:16
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Dubai - South Africa's free-scoring middle-order batsman AB de Villiers has moved up five places to 11th in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player rankings for Test batsmen following the Proteas' victory over the West Indies in Barbados on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old, who is now a veteran of 61 Tests, scored 73 in the first innings at Kensington Oval and has managed to move ahead of such luminaries as Ricky Ponting and VVS Laxman in his journey up the ladder. Already enjoying the highest rating of his career to date, he now has New Zealand's Ross Taylor in his sights for a place in the top 10.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul was already in the top 10 and his efforts with the bat in what was a losing cause for the West Indies has earned him another three places to sixth position. His innings of 22 and 71 not out moved him ahead of Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis in a log still headed by India's Virender Sehwag.
The other main mover in the top 20 is Hashim Amla of South Africa, who slipped five places following innings of five and 25 in the match.
There is little change near the top of the rankings for Test bowlers or all-rounders, with South Africa's Dale Steyn increasing his lead at the top of the bowlers' list as he picked up a total of six wickets in Bridgetown.
Another Protea, Kallis, maintained his position atop the all-rounders' rankings, followed by Daniel Vettori of New Zealand and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan.
South Africa's series victory meant that they maintained their second place position in the Test Championships, with India still in first position. Australia are in third place, followed by Sri Lanka and England.