Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan placed at 12th spot in ICC Test rankings

Veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan are both placed at the 12th spot in the latest ICC Test batsmen and bowlers rankings list respectively that was issued on Tuesday. This makes them the highest placed Indian cricketers in the ranking.

While Tendulkar is the only Indian in the top-20 of the batting list, Zaheer has the company of spinner Pragyan Ojha, who held on to his 20th spot, in the bowling chart.

Meanwhile, England's Kevin Pietersen has returned to the top 10 after smashing a century against South Africa in the second Test that ended in a draw at Leeds on Monday.

Pietersen's knock of 149 in England's first innings score of 425 not only earned him the man-of-the-match award but also provided him with a leap of seven places, which has put him in 10th position.

The latest rankings were released on Tuesday after the conclusion of the Leeds Test and also incorporate performances from the Jamaica Test, which was won by the West Indies against New Zealand by five wickets on Sunday to seal a series win of 2-0.

In the bowlers' table, South African fast bowler Vernon Philander has achieved a career-best ranking of third, as well as career-best rating after match figures of three for 98.

England now need to win the Lords Test, starting from August 16, to retain their number one position, while South Africa require a draw to move to the top.

If England win the Test, it will finish on 121 ratings points, pushing South Africa behind Australia into third position on 114 ratings points.

However, if England lose the Test, then they will slip to second position on 117 ratings points while South Africa will move to number-one spot on 120 ratings points.

If England salvage a draw, then both the sides will be tied on 118 ratings points with South Africa taking the top spot by a fraction (0.1634) of a point.

West Indies and New Zealand have also swapped places on the Test table with former now seventh and the Kiwis eighth.