`Keepers prosper as six batsmen reach career-best ratings in Faisalabad run-fest

Wicketkeepers Kamran Akmal and Mahendra Singh Dhoni benefited from favourable batting conditions in the second Test between Pakistan and India at Faisalabad to reach career-best ratings in the LG ICC Test batting rankings.

Akmal's 78 runs in the second innings were enough to lift him into the top 50 for the first time while Dhoni's 148 runs boosted him 21 places in the official table to 57th place. The pair are now the third and fourth ranked Test wicketkeeper/batsmen behind Adam Gilchrist (16th) and Kumar Sangakkara (20th).

Although the favourable batting conditions meant that high run scorers made only small improvements to their ratings, four other players also attained their highest ever ratings totals. Pakistani centurions Younis Khan (8th), Mohammad Yousuf (10th) and Shahid Afridi (32nd) all set new personal best marks as did Irfan Pathan (60th) who scored 90 for India.

It was not a good match for bowlers and Shoaib Akhtar (7th) is the only man from either team still in the top 10 of the LG ICC Test bowling rankings after Anil Kumble dropped two places to 11th. With no wickets in the series to date, Harbhajan Singh has slipped to 17th, his lowest ranking for nearly five years.

With one match remaining India must avoid defeat to stay second in the LG ICC Test Championship. If the third Test is drawn, India's rating will fall one point to 114 while victory will lift it to 116, a record for India since the official table was introduced. Defeat, however, would see India slip behind England to third.

There is even more at stake for Pakistan who went into the series 12 points behind India. If they can win the final match the gap will be reduced to only three points.

Full details of the current LG ICC Test Championship and how future results will impact on the table, as well as the LG ICC Player Rankings can be found here