ICC Test rankings: Dravid, Bell rise after Trent Bridge heroics

England's thumping win over India at Trent Bridge all but announced England's dominance in Test cricket but that wasn't the only prize for the English team. An unassailable series lead was coupled by some emphatic rise in the ICC rankings for the English players. From India's perspective, Rahul Dravid was the only reason to cheer about as he is now on the brink of breaking into the top 10.

First innings centurion Ian Bell broke into the top five in the Reliance ICC Test Rankings after recording a career-high batting rating after his performance at Trent Bridge.

Stuart Broad, who frustrated India on all fronts climbed to the third spot in the all-rounder rankings, while he has also jumped to seventh place in the bowling table following match figures of 8-76.

Rahul Dravid, who made his second consecutive Test match hundred of the series, has continued his surge up the rankings, rising four places to joint 11t. There are already three India batters in the top 10, with Sachin Tendulkar (3rd), VVS Laxman (9th) and Virender Sehwag (10th) just ahead of Dravid.

Bell recorded his fourth century in the space of six Test Matches at Trent Bridge and is now just 16 rating points behind teammate Jonathan Trott, who has slipped two places in the rankings to fourth position.

Matt Prior (21st), Stuart Broad (44th) and Tim Bresnan (joint 75th) have also achieved new career-high ratings following England's 319-run victory which gave it a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

However, it is not all good news for England's batters, as Alastair Cook has slipped six places to 11th position following a disappointing series in which he has made just 20 runs in four innings.

Tim Bresnan has risen 14 places in the bowling rankings, following his first five-wicket Test haul, to put him 25th on the list, while his innings of 90 in the second innings has helped him rise to 13th in the all-rounder standings.

England are now on course to take top spot on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table. A series win of two clear Tests in the four-match series (2-0 or 3-1) will see Andrew Strauss's men topple India as the number-one Test side in the world. The table is updated only at the end of each series.