Cricket: Duanne Olivier cracks top 20 in Test bowler rankings

Proteas fast bowler Duanne Olivier entered the top 20 in the ICC Test bowler rankings despite his side's historic series defeat to Sri Lanka over the weekend.

The islanders recorded a maiden Test series win on South African soil, becoming the third nation after England and Australia and the first ever Asian side to achieve the feat.

This was after a two-match contest where the ball pretty much dominated, with Olivier's four wickets in the second match proving enough to see him into the top 20, where he slots in at number 19.

The Knights speedster joins countrymen Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander in the top 20, with the former slipping into third, having ended 2018 at the summit of the rankings.

Australian quick Pat Cummings is the new man at the top, following a successful home series against Sri Lanka, and is closely followed by veteran Englishman James Anderson.

Philander, who sat out the second Test against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury is fourth, while Indian tweaker Ravindra Jadeja rounds up the top five.

On the batting front, there are three South Africans in the top ten, despite a sub-par performance with the willow throughout the recently-concluded series.

Quinton de Kock, who made three half centuries in four innings against Sri Lanka, moved up to ninth place, a spot behind teammate Aiden Markram, while skipper, Faf du Plessis completes the top ten.

The list is still headed up by Indian captain Virat Kohli with his New Zealand counterpart, Kane Williamson in second place.

ICC Test rankings Batsmen

Virat Kohli

Kane Williamson

Cheteshwar Pujara

Steve Smith

Henry Nicholls

Dave Warner

Aiden Markram

Quinton de Kock

Faf du Plessis

Bowlers

Pat Cummins

James Anderson

Kagiso Rabada

Vernon Philander

Ravindra Jadeja

Trent Boult

Jason Holder

Mohammad Abbas

Tim Southee

Ravichandran Ashwin

Tags: ProteasSouth AfricaSri LankaTest match

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