Pakistan's off-spinner Saeed Ajmal climbs one more place and his spin partner Abdur Rehman has broken into the top 10 for the first time in his career in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers. The rankings released on Sunday after the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi, Adelaide and Napier Tests, says a press release issued here.
Saeed followed up his 10-97 in the Dubai Test with seven for 130 in the Abu Dhabi Test which was enough to put him ahead of England's fast bowler James Anderson in second position. The 34-year-old has earned 50 ratings points for this achievement giving him a career-best rating, and he now leads Anderson by 25 ratings points but still trails number-one ranked Dale Steyn of South Africa by 84 ratings points.
Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who had figures of two for 67 and six for 25 to win the man of the match award, has jumped five places to ninth spot.
The 31-year-old from Sialkot had also gained five places in the bowlers'rankings after his match figures of four for 89 in the Dubai Test.
This is after 23 years year that two Pakistan spinners figure inside the top 10 of the Test player rankings.
In September 1988, Abdul Qadir was ranked fifth and Iqbal Qasim 10th, along with Imran Khan (third), Wasim Akram (eighth) and Tauseef Ahmed (13th).
The very fact that Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez are currently the two top-ranked ODI bowlers means this is undoubtedly one of the finest periods for Pakistan spinners in the history of the game.
However Pakistan Skipper, Misbah-ul-haq has broken into the top 10 for the first time in his career in eighth position by rising six places following his contributions of 84 and 12 while Taylor's 122 retired hurt in Napier has lifted him three places to 17th position.
Despite Pakistan having already won its seventh series out of 11 against England since 1983-84, there is still a lot to play for in the third and final Test which starts in Dubai on February 3.
England must win the Dubai Test to be guaranteed number-one spot at the April, 1 cut-off date while Pakistan's 3-0 series win will bring it three points closer to India and Australia.
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