Amla takes over as number-one ranked Test batsman

Amla leads a number of South Africa players who continue to make impressive gains in the latest ICC Test Player Rankings.

South Africa players now head the ICC Test Player Rankings tables for batting, bowling and all-rounders after the side's 211-run win over Pakistan in the first Test at Johannesburg today, which gave it a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn has broken the 900-rating points barrier for the second time in his career to retain his number one position in the ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers, and Jacques Kallis still heads the ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders.

Steyn now has 908 ratings points, the best by a Test bowler since Muttiah Muralitharan reached the same rating in July 2008 against India. Steyn last broke the 900-ratings points barrier in November 2011 after the Cape Town Test against Australia. He now sits alongside ICC Cricket Hall of Famer Alan Davidson of Australia in 13th position on the Reliance ICC Best-Ever Test Championship Rating.

Amla has taken over the number-one position in the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsman for the first time in his career, after entering the Johannesburg Test trailing Australia captain Michael Clarke by just one ratings point.

He has moved to top spot after knocks of 37 and 74 not out, and now sits on 895 ratings points, which is his career-best rating.

Amla, who was short-listed for the ICC Cricketer of the Year Award in 2011 and 2012, now heads both the Test and ODI batting tables. He is the first man since former Australia captain Ponting in December 2007 to do so. MORE