Rangana Herath Jumps To No.5 Among Bowlers in Latest ICC Test Rankings

Rangana Herath has jumped to number five in the latest ICC Test rankings for bowlers after he helped Sri Lanka whitewash Australia 3-0 for the first time in their Test history.

Herath, who has played 73 Tests and taken 332 wickets, was the leading wicket-taker in the three-match series against Australia with 28 wickets at a phenomenal average of 12.75.

This is the left-arm spinner's highest ranking since he had achieved his best of fourth spot after the end of the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington in 2015

The bowler's list is headed by England's James Anderson, followed by Indian offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin, South African pacer Dale Steyn and England fast bowler Stuart Broad.

Sri Lanka's 3-0 whitewash has resulted in their jump to sixth spot in the table while Australia, who have lost nine consecutive Tests in Asia since 2013, have relinquished their No.1 ranking to slip to third spot.

Herath was the star bowler in the series against Australia. The left-armer started off with a four-wicket haul in the first innings of the first Test in Pallekele but picked up 5/54 in the second innings as Australia lost by 106 runs. In the Galle Test, he picked up six wickets but it was in the third Test in Colombo where he picked up match figures of 13/145 to give Sri Lanka their first series win against Australia after 17 years.

Heading into the series, Herath was suffering a knee injury but skipper Angelo Mathews said the efforts of the left-arm spinner were phenomenal.

"He couldn't run and he couldn't jump. He was just landing the ball on one leg and he is unbelievable. The batsmen are having a nightmare facing him no matter how well they play spin. Credit should go to this man. He has been a great team man as well," Mathews said after the end of the third Test.