Trott and Anderson into second place

James Anderson has leapfrogged team-mate Graeme Swann to take the No. 2 spot in the bowling rankings, while Jonathan Trott has overtaken Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara to be rated the second best Test batsman in the world.

Anderson has achieved his career-best mark - this is the first time he has touched 800 points - following his second-innings figures of 5 for 65 on the final day at Lord's, when he claimed the key wickets of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina. It has put him ahead of Swann who, despite playing an important role in both innings, only claimed two wickets.

Trott scored a vital 70 in England's first innings at Lord's, where he batted in the toughest conditions on the first day to help set the home side a platform. Kevin Pietersen followed that with an unbeaten 202, which has been enough to propel him back into the top 20.

"That first innings total was a magnificent performance and Kevin was mainly responsible for that," Andrew Strauss, the England captain, said. "That was one of the great innings I've seen since being involved [with cricket], in very difficult circumstances. He had to be smart in the way he played their seamers, he had to graft and then when we had the opportunity to attack, he attacked. Jonathan Trott also showed great temperament and technique to get to 70."

Matt Prior, who hit 71 and an unbeaten 103 has also achieved a new career-best rating, rising 10 places to 21st. Chris Tremlett's four wickets in the match have helped him to ninth place in the bowlers rankings, while Stuart Broad climbs four places and has also moved to fifth in the all-rounders' table.

India still have two bowlers in the top ten with Zaheer Khan, who is expected to miss the Trent Bridge Test due to injury, and Ishant Sharma lying in fifth and seventh place respectively. In the batting top ten, apart from Tendulkar, India have VVS Laxman in seventh while Virender Sehwag, who missed the Lord's Test through injury, has dropped to 10th.

Eng need 2-0 or 3-1 win to be No. 1 in Tests

London: England must beat India by at least two clear matches in the forthcoming series to be ranked as the world's top Test team.

Anything less will be insufficient to remove their opponents from the No. 1 spot they have occupied since last year.

At present, England are in third place on 117 points, behind India on 125 and South Africa on 118. A win for England by 1-0 or 2-1 in the four-match series, which is scheduled to start at the Lord's next week, will see them overtake South Africa but only draw level with India.

But a victory by 2-0 or 3-1, with points at stake because England lost to India at home four years ago, would see Andrew Strauss's side go three points clear.

If England were to lose to India, by any margin, they would still retain third place in the rankings, such is the gap between the top three and the rest.

Although the rankings are arcane, depending on a multitude of factors including quality of the opposition and previous results between the sides, they are generally felt to be accurate.

It is England's declared mission to top the charts for the first time since the ICC's official ratings system began and if they miss out now, they may have to wait a while for another opportunity, relying on India to lose to others, reports Independant.

A sense of anticipation is settling on England with such a prize at stake.

Tendulkar tops test rankings

Evergreen India veteran Sachin Tendulkar has returned to the top of the Test batsmen rankings for the first time since 2002 after his sparkling run of recent form.

Tendulkar's man-of-the-match display in the second Test against Australia this week was enough to secure him the number one spot eight years after he last occupied it.

The 37-year-old's 214 and unbeaten 53 inspired India to a seven-wicket win over the tourists and secured a 2-0 victory in the series.

He jumped from fourth to edge out Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and compatriot Virender Sehwag and top the ratings for the ninth time in his career.

Michael Clarke was the highest ranked Australian batsman at No.13 but was down five spots following his recent lean run of form.

South Africa's Dale Steyn remains the leading Test bowler with England's Graeme Swann second.

Mitchell Johnson was the seventh rated bowler, down three spots.