Warne reigns in rankings once again

Warne is back to where he belongs © Getty Images

It's been a long wait for one of the game's greatest ever bowlers, but Shane Warne has returned to the top of the Test bowling rankings for the first time in almost ten years.

After grabbing 40 wickets in the Ashes, Warne followed that up with five wickets in the first innings of the first Test against West Indies at Brisbane. This helped push his long-standing partner in crime Glenn McGrath into second place and give Warne a lead of two points. Warne last topped the rankings after a man-of-the-series display against Pakistan in December 1995. He is also just six points off his best ever batting rating.

In another fillip for the Australians as they look to recover from their Ashes defeat, captain Ricky Ponting's two centuries against West Indies has closed the gap on first placed Jacques Kallis to just three points. Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpual both drop three places after a dismal showing against the Australians.

Click here for the top ten Test and ODI batting and bowling rankings.