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Herath, Starc climb in ICC rankings

Big wicket-takers from Sri Lanka v Australia series make a move on the bowling charts

Rangana Herath and Mitchell Starc have both cut the gap to world number one bowler James Anderson following their record-breaking exploits in the just-completed Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia.

Herath, who claimed 28 wickets and Player-of-the-Series honours in the hosts' shock 3-0 humbling of the Aussies, has climbed into the top five off the back of his 13 wickets in the final Test in Colombo.

The left-arm spinner now has 831 ratings points, placing him in fifth position behind England's Anderson (870), India's Ravichandran Ashwin (858), Proteas spearhead Dale Steyn (841) and another Englishman, Stuart Broad (836) in fourth.

Watch all of Herath's 28 wickets v Australia

Starc, who missed Australia's series against West Indies and New Zealand in the past 12 months with injury, moves up to seventh on 792 ratings points – the highest of the left-armer quick's Test career to date – after claiming a record-breaking 24 wickets against the Sri Lankans.

Quick Single: Starc's stunning series by the numbers

No visiting fast bowler has ever taken as many wickets in a three-Test series in Asia.

Watch all of Starc's 24 wickets v Sri Lanka

Splitting Herath and Starc is Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah, whose five wickets helped his side claim victory in the fourth and final Test against England earlier this week, levelling the series at 2-2.

The 30-year-old now has 95 wickets in just 16 Tests, having snared 19 in England in the first Test series the Pakistani has played outside Asia.

Pakistan level series after Yasir's five

India's Ravindra Jadeja, New Zealand's Trent Boult and South Africa's Morne Morkel, who is set to miss the upcoming series against the Black Caps (beginning Friday 6pm AEST), round out the top 10.

Image Id: ~/media/6F7A540B761B496689C600E372A71449 Image Caption: The top 10 Test bowlers (image courtesy ICC)

Among the batsman, a fighting first-innings hundred from Australia captain Steve Smith sees him retain his number one position, on 906 ratings points.

Smith joins Marsh with a century in Colombo

Smith is closely followed by England talisman Joe Root (888), who made 26 and 39 at The Oval to consolidate second spot.

Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson's century against Zimbabwe earned him a handful of points to keep him in third spot, while he and fourth-ranked Hashim Amla will go head-to-head in the coming days in Durban.

After a lean first three Tests, Pakistan's Younis Khan made a double century in London and sits in fifth spot, with injured regular Proteas skipper AB de Villiers occupying sixth position.

Younis, Yasir heroics put Pakistan in control

Adam Voges came shuddering back to earth during the Sri Lanka series and slips to seventh spot, with the top 10 rounded out by India youngster Ajinkya Rahane, and New Zealand's Ross Taylor and Australia opener David Warner (both 772 points, equal ninth).

Players from India and West Indies, and New Zealand and South Africa will all have the opportunity to make moves in the rankings in the coming days, with the four teams in action in Trinidad and Durban respectively.

Image Id: ~/media/7993E0CE081C4CA3B05D7D5B3EDAC887 Image Caption: The top 10 Test batsmen (image courtesy ICC)