Gambhir loses Test No. 1 to Sangakkara by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

---

Player:

G Gambhir, KC Sangakkara

---

DateLine: 1st September 2009

 

Indian opener Gautam Gambhir lost the number one Test batsman's tag to Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara.

 

Sangakkara reclaimed the spot after brilliant knocks against New Zealand.

 

The Sri Lanka captain followed up his half-century in the first innings of the second Test against New Zealand with an exquisite 109 in his 20th Test century to reclaim the top position from Gambhir.

 

Sangakkara had first achieved the number-one ranking in December 2007 before he returned to the top spot in March 2008 and then in July 2009.

 

He is not the only one on the move after a successful campaign against New Zealand. Sangakkara's predecessor Mahela Jayawardene and middle-order batsmen Thilan Samaraweera, have both achieved career-best rankings.

 

While Jayawardena has jumped four places to third position after knocks of 92 and 96 which made him the first Asian and fourth overall to be out in the 90s twice in a Test, Samaraweera's 11th century in what was his 54th Test has put him just outside the top 10 in 12th position after he had started the Test in 16th position.