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Swann heroics lift him to No. 4 in Test rankings

Graeme Swann took ten wickets in the second Test © Getty Images

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Graeme Swann has been rewarded for his impressive second Test figures for England against Sri Lanka with a move into the world's top five bowlers.

Swann was labelled the game-changer by Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene after a crucial over at the end of the fourth day set up England's series-levelling victory in Colombo. The offspinner took two wickets in the penultimate over of Friday's play, and England duly wrapped things up over the weekend to remain the top-ranked Test nation in the world.

In total Swann picked up ten wickets in the Test match, posting figures of 10-181 in the eight-wicket victory. Sri Lanka's leading spin bowler, Rangana Herath, claimed only seven victims in the match and is one place behind Swann in the newly-released rankings.

"Graeme is one of the best offspinners I've faced and he's got variety. We knew going into the series that he would be the challenge," Jayawardene commented. "Him and Jimmy Anderson are the two main bowlers that will bowl well in any conditions, which proved the case. We handled them well on some occasions but when you are up against two quality bowlers they will strike as well."

Swann, now No. 4 in the world, is one place behind Anderson, while South Africa's Dale Steyn leads the list.

In the batting stakes, Man of the Series Jayawardene moved up to 17th in the world after his 354 runs across the two Test matches, posted at an average of 88.5.

England's Kevin Pietersen is one place behind in 18th after his efforts of 151 and 42 not out in the second Test. Meanwhile, England opener Alastair Cook is up to sixth in the world following his highly valuable contributions of 94 and 49 not out.

Michael Clarke of Australia and AB de Villiers of South Africa are currently joint top of the rankings in Test match batting.

Batsmen
1 Michael Clarke (Aus)
= AB de Villiers (SA)
3 Jacques Kallis (SA)
4 Younus Khan (Pak)
5 Kumar Sangakarra (SL)
6 Alastair Cook (Eng)
7 Thilan Samaraweera (SL)
8 Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI)
9 Hashim Amla (SA)
10 Ross Taylor (NZ)

Bowlers
1 Dale Steyn (SA)
2 Saeed Ajmal (Pak)
3 James Anderson (Eng)
4 Graeme Swann (Eng)
5 Rangana Herath (SL)
6 Peter Siddle (Aus)
7 Vernon Philander (SA)
8 Stuart Broad (Eng)
9 Abdur Rehman (Pak)
10 Morne Morkel (SA)

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.