Philander continues to rise up rankings
Proteas fast bowler Vernon Philander climbed to a career-best second place in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings for test bowlers released on Tuesday.
Philander, who returned match figures of seven for 78 in the third and final test against England at Lord's, helping South Africa to a 2-0 series victory, leapfrogged Pakistani offspinner Saeed Ajmal in the ratings list.
The 27-year-old paceman was only 29 points behind fellow South African speedster Dale Steyn.
Philander, who receives a provisional ranking as he has played only 10 tests, also made 61 and 35 runs in his two innings with the bat at Lord's, lifting him to seventh position in the rankings for allrounders.
Meanwhile, Hashim Amla, who became the first South African to make a triple century in the first test and was named the Proteas' Player of the Series, reclaimed second position in the world rankings for batsmen.
Jacques Kallis dropped two positions to fourth in the batsmen's ratings and fell from the top spot to second place in the allrounders' rankings.
The Proteas moved back to the summit of the table in the test rankings for teams, climbing three points above England with the series victory.
