Swann jumps to fourth in Test rankings

Dubai, April 8 (IANS) Off-spinner Graeme Swann's 10-wicket haul not only helped England to a Test victory in Colombo but also lifted him six places to fourth spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test bowling rankings - just one place behind team mate James Anderson.

Swann took 10-181 in England's eight-wicket win, which squared the series 1-1, while Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath, who took 6-133 and 1-37 in the match, moved up to fifth with a career best rating of 769.

Despite losing the Test there was also a career-best rating for another Sri Lanka player, Angelo Mathews, who scored 57 and 46 to climb five places to 30th in the table and claim 586 ratings points.

Mahela Jayawardena, the Man of the Series, with 354 runs at an average of 88.5, went up two places to 17th - one ahead of the man of the match Kevin Pietersen.

England's Pietersen, who hit 151 and an unbeaten 42, went up three places to joint 18th with Australia's Mike Hussey and ahead of team mate Ian Bell, who drops to 20th.

But the biggest mover in the batting rankings was England's vice-captain Alastair Cook, who leapt a massive eight places to sixth spot. Cook scored 94 and then steered England to victory with an unbeaten 49 in the second innings at the P Sara Oval in Colombo. He is only two places behind Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, who drops one place to fifth, and is overtaken in fourth place by Pakistan's Younus Khan.