Sehwag retains top spot in latest ICC rankings

New Delhi, Apr 1(ANI): Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag has retained the top spot of the International Cricket Council (ICC) player rankings for Test batsmen in the latest rankings released on Thursday.

Sehwag has remained at the top with 863 points, followed by South African batsman Hashim Amla for second spotwith 842 points and Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardena at third spot with 836 points.

Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke, who earlier had Sehwag firmly within his sights before the start of the second and final Test against New Zealand in Hamilton, as just 16 ratings points separated the two batsmen, has dropped to fifth position after his contributions of 28 and 63.

Clarke's fall has shifted back Amla to the second place with an opportunity to snatch the number-one position from Sehwag when he faces West Indies in the three-Test series, which starts in Kingston on June 10.

In the rankings for Test bowlers, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has bounced back strongly after a disappointing first Test in Wellington to jump three places and regain second position, which he had first achieved last year in March in Durban against South Africa.he left-arm fast bowler, who took 10 wickets in Hamilton, had slipped two places to fifth position after managing just one wicket in the first Test.

Johnson's team-mate Doug Bollinger is also on the move upwards and has achieved a career-best 15th position after climbing four places following his figures of 3-57 and 2-87. (ANI)