Kallis edges ahead of Lara at top of LG ICC Test batting rankings

A century from Jacques Kallis in Antigua was enough to return him to the top of the LG ICC Test Rankings ahead of Brian Lara, at the end of the series between West Indies and South Africa in the Caribbean.

Competition at the top of the batting rankings has never been fiercer with only 23 points separating the top four batsmen (Kallis, Lara, Dravid and Ponting), all of whom have ratings that would have been enough to put them comfortably at number one in many other eras.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has returned to the top ten after recapturing his best form during the series while triple centurion Chris Gayle has climbed to 24th, his highest ranking to date.

In the LG ICC Test bowling rankings, Shaun Pollock retains third place although he has slipped below the elite 800-point level for the first time in seven years. Makhaya Ntini or Andre Nel may soon be taking over the mantle of leading South African bowler, both of them having reached personal best rankings in the Caribbean.

South Africa has drawn level with Sri Lanka on 100 points in the LG ICC Test Championship but it remains in sixth place when the ratings are recalculated to three decimal places.