Bell rises in rankings after India ton

LONDON (AFP) - Englands Ian Bell has risen to fifth place in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Test batting rankings published Tuesday on the back of his brilliant century against India at Trent Bridge. Bell made 159 as England won the second Test by 319 runs with more than a day to spare to go 2-0 up in the four-match series. England paceman Stuart Broad, who in the match took a hat-trick on his Nottinghamshire home ground and made valuable scores with the bat, is now third in the ICCs all-rounder rankings and seventh in the bowler standings. Englands Jonathan Trott has slipped two places in the batting ranks to fourth, a place ahead of Bell. Meanwhile Indias Sachin Tendulkar (up into third), Venkatsai Laxman and the currently sidelined Virender Sehwag all remain in the batting top 10, with Rahul Dravid, who made a first innings century at Trent Bridge, in 11th place. South Africas Jacques Kallis is still top of both the batting and all-rounder table while fast-bowling compatriot Dale Steyn leads the bowling standings with Englands James Anderson and Indias injured Zaheer Khan still second and fifth respectively. Englands spinner Graeme Swann is fourth in the table while no Pakistan player is in top 10 rankings both for batsmen and bowlers.

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