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Kevin Pietersen has become the highest-rated England batsman for 41 years after moving up to third in the ICC ratings.

Pietersen made his Test debut in the 2005 Ashes and has scored a century and three fifties in the current series.

He has moved above Michael Vaughan’s best grade in 2003 and is now the seventh highest English batsman, with 896 points, one below Wally Hammond.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting remains top of the latest world list.

Pakistan run machine Mohammad Yousuf is in second place, with Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara moving up to fifth following his 268-run haul from four innings in the series in New Zealand.

Young England batsmen Ian Bell and Alastair Cook, plus Australian Michael Clarke, move into the top-20. In the bowling rankings, Muttiah Muralitharan stays out in front, and is only two points short of his best ever rating of 915, achieved in 2002. Australian Stuart Clark is included in the top-20 for the first time, while evergreen spinner Anil Kumble moves up three places to fifth.

Leading Test batting rankings:

Position Player Points Best season

1 R Ponting (Aus) 940 (best 942, 2006)

2 M Yousuf (Pak) 933 (best 933, 2006)

3 K Pietersen (Eng) 896 (best 896, 2006)

4 R Dravid (Ind) 865 (best 892, 2005)

5 K Sangakkara (SL) 857 (best 857, 2006)

6 M Hussey (Aus) 835 (best 835, 2006)

7 B Lara (WI) 801 (best 911, 2004)

8 J Kallis (SA) 792 (best 896, 2005)

9 Younis Khan (Pak) 786 (best 856, 2006)

10 M Hayden (Aus) 771 (best 935, 2002)

Leading Test bowling rankings:

Position Bowler Points Best season

1 M Muralitharan (SL) 913 (best 915, 2002)

2 M Ntini (SA) 824 (best 847, 2006)

3 G McGrath (Aus) 820 (best 914, 2001)

4 S Warne (Aus) 782 (best 905, 1994)

5 A Kumble (Ind) 753 (best 859, 1994)

6 M Hoggard (Eng) 746 (best 795, 2006)

7 S Bond (NZ) 722 (best 778, 2006)

8 A Flintoff (Eng) 712 (best 810, 2005)

9 S Akhtar (Pak) 700 (best 855, 2003)

10 S Pollock (SA) 697 (best 909, 1999)
Source:The News