Tendulkar back in top 20

Riding on his two tons against Bangladesh, the maestro jumps back in top 20 of the latest LG-ICC rankings for Test batsmen.

Riding on his two centuries against Bangladesh, Sachin Tendulkar jumped back in top 20 of the latest LG-ICC player rankings for Test cricket batsmen.

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The 34-year-old veteran player scored a hundred in each match, at Chittagong and Mirpur, compiling a total of 254 runs at an average of 127 to move up six places to 15th position in the rankings issued today.

With a total of 672 ratings points, Tendulkar has Stephen Fleming of New Zealand and England's Paul Collingwood in his sights, although he is a long way off his own career-best rating of 898 set in 2002.

It was a good series for India's bowlers too with Anil Kumble moving up to third among Test bowlers. Kumble is now level with South Africa's Shaun Pollock and is just ahead of Shane Bond of New Zealand and Australia's Stuart Clark.

Left-arm opening bowler Zaheer Khan, who took a total of eight wickets at an average of 21.88, moved up five places to 24th in the rankings, led by Sri Lankan wizard Muttiah Muralidharan. Makhaya Ntini of South Africa occupies second spot while Kumble and Pollock are joint third.

Pietersen became just the 21st batsman in history to achieve a rating in excess of 900 points, thanks to his double century during the second Test against the West Indies at Headingley.

India is fourth of the ICC Test Championship and is now just one ratings point behind Pakistan in third position. Australia still tops the list, well clear of England in second position.