Dubai: Dashing Indian opener Gautam Gambhir on Monday lost the number one Test batsman’s spot to Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara who reclaimed the spot for the fourth time in his career after brilliant performances against New Zealand in the recently concluded test series.

Sangakkara first achieved the number-one ranking in December 2007 before he returned to the top spot in March 2008 and then in July 2009.

He is not the only one on the move after a successful campaign against New Zealand. Sangakkara’s predecessor Mahela Jayawardene and middle-order batsmen Thilan Samaraweera, who was the player of the series against New Zealand, have both reached career-best rankings.

While Jayawardena has jumped four places to third position after knocks of 92 and 96 which made him the first Asian and fourth overall to be out in the 90s twice in a Test, Samaraweera’s 11th century in what was his 54th Test has put him just outside the top 10 in 12th position after he had started the Test in 16th position.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, however, has failed to defend his 19th position and has dropped out of the top 20 after falling two places following knocks of 29 and 33. New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor and captain Daniel Vettori have also made movements in the right direction.

Taylor has jumped four places to share 23rd spot with West Indies’ Chris Gayle while Vettori’s fourth Test century has helped him improve his ranking by one position. He now sits in 28th spot.

The only change in the top 20 of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers is New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin who has slipped two places to 18th position.

Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Rangana Herath is the biggest mover in the bowlers’ rankings as the 31-year-old has moved up 12 places to 28th spot after match figures of 8-209, including 5-139 in the second innings. South Africa’s Dale Steyn leads the bowlers’ ranking with Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka and Mitchell Johnson of Australia following him.

There is also no change in the top five of the ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders as Jacques Kallis continues to lead the field by some distance. However, Vettori has achieved his career-best rating that has helped him open up the gap with third-placed Johnson.

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