Senior batsman Rahul Dravid went down three spots to 18th. VVS Laxman was down a couple of positions at 23rd while Virender Sehwag was spot behind him after losing a rung. Sehwag’s opening partner Gautam Gambhir also dropped two places to 34th. However, Virat Kohli, the only Indian to score a hundred in the series, gained 17 places to be 50th in the latest list. Among the bowlers, Zaheer was the only Indian in the top-20.

On the other hand, several Australian players made upward movements. Pacer Peter Siddle, who won the man of the match award for his six for 96 in the Adelaide Test, gained two places and is now in a career best fourth position while Harris’s match figures of four for 112 lifted him four places to 22nd spot. Nathan Lyon’s five for 111 earned him nine places, putting him in 43rd position. Mainstays of their side’s batting orders — Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting — have also surged to occupy third and 14th position respectively.

‘Cricket needs a strong India’

Under fire Rahul Dravid has emphasised the importance of India being a strong and passionate Test nation for the benefit of world cricket. “We haven’t done so well abroad over the last couple of series but I’m hopeful that some of the young kids will come through, it might take a bit of time but we’ll build up a strong base.

“India needs to be a strong Test playing nation, there are not too many countries playing cricket and if India is competitive in Test cricket it does make a difference. There are areas we need to improve, especially in these challenging times, but I am hopeful,” Dravid said, while also dismissing rumours of his impending retirement.

Haddin may be out for ODIs
Melbourne: Australia’s woefully out of form wicketkeeper Brad Haddin could be replaced by Matthew Wade behind the stumps in the first three one-dayers of the tri-series against India and Sri Lanka starting February 5. Haddin was criticised for a below-par show in the Test series against India.

Wade will keep in the two T20 matches against India this week and is expected to be picked for the first three ODIs when the squad is announced on Monday.

Australia’s performance manager Pat Howard said performance would be sole criteria for picking the squad. “You need sufficient skills to be within the frame, obviously. No one is picked if they don’t perform to be recognised for their core skills,” Howard was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.