ICC Champions Trophy 2009 unveiled

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy for the 2009 tournament is unveiled to media

ICC Test Player Rankings

Batsmen
Rank	Player	Team	Points	HS Rating
1	K Sangakkara	SL	859	938 v Eng at Kandy 2007
2	Gautam Gambhir	Ind	847!	847 v NZ at Wellington 2009
3	Mahela Jayawardena	SL	830	854 v Ban at Dhaka 2008
4	S.Chanderpaul	WI	821	901 v NZ at Napier 2008
5	Mohammad Yousuf	Pak	818	933 v WI at Karachi 2006
6	Michael Clarke	Aus	808	855 v Eng at Headingley 2009
7	Younus Khan	Pak	801	880 v SL at Lahore 2009
8	Graeme Smith	SA	782	810 v Aus at Melbourne 2008
9	Ricky Ponting	Aus	779	942 v Eng at Adelaide 2006
10	Jacques Kallis	SA	755	935 v NZ at Centurion 2007

Sangakkara reclaims number-one position as Jayawardena and Samaraweera achieve career-best rankings

ri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has reclaimed the number-one position in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen for the fourth time in his career after brilliant knocks in the second Test against New Zealand.

The Sri Lanka captain followed up his half-century in the first innings with an exquisite 109 - his 20th Test century - to reclaim the top position from India's Gautam Gambhir.

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 Jayawardena and middle-order batsmen Thilan Samaraweera, who was player of the series, have both achieved 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, who contributed 81 and 27 in the lost cause, 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 from Kurunegala has rocketed 12 places to 28th spot after match figures of 8-209, including 5-139 in the second innings.

New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel is the other bowler to rise in the latest bowling table. The off-spinner has climbed three places to 46th after match figures of 6-200, including 4-78 in the first innings.

South Africa's Dale Steyn leads the bowlers' ranking from Muttiah Muralidaran of Sri Lanka and Mitchell Johnson of Australia.

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

Sri Lanka eye Indian scalp

Having toyed with Pakistan and New Zealand, Kumar Sangakkara's Sri Lanka are eyeing India as their next scalp as the battle heats up to be the world's top Test team.

Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan and New Zealand by identical 2-0 margins at home to climb to the number two spot in the official rankings with a rating of 120 behind number one team South Africa's 122.

With India just one rating point behind Sri Lanka on 119 and Ashes losers Australia in fourth place with 116, the scramble at the top could see a new number one by the end of the year.

Sri Lanka need to win their three-Test series in India in November-December to overtake South Africa, while a 2-0 win for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men will push India to the top.

Sri Lanka have never won a Test match in India, let alone a series, in seven previous visits across the Palk Straits, with eight losses and six draws since their first Test there in Chennai in 1982.

It's a record Sangakkara, who has won four of his five Tests as captain since taking over from Mahela Jayawardene earlier this year, is determined to set straight.

"The Indian tour will test everyone, mentally, physically and skill wise," he told reporters.

"But if we do our homework right, be confident, prepare as best as we can and go out there looking to win, and if our attitude is positive, we will do well."

When they last played a series in India in December 2005, Sri Lanka lost the second Test in New Delhi by 188 runs and the third in Ahmedabad by 259 runs after the first game in Chennai was washed out.

"One likes to play against the best and India will definitely be a tough side to conquer," said Sangakkara. "It is not easy playing Test cricket in India."

Both sides get a chance to gauge each other's strengths when India join New Zealand and Sri Lanka in a limited-overs tri-series in Colombo from September 8-14.

India and Sri Lanka are drawn in different group for the Champions Trophy in South Africa in late-September, but could meet in the semi-finals if they qualify after the preliminary round.