Australian skipper Ricky Ponting's sub-par performance in the Adelaide Test against West Indies has seen him slide out of the world's top ten batsmen for the first time since 2002.
The most recent figures released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) has Ponting sitting at 12th place, a drop of three spots. He is now behind New Zealand's Ross Taylor (ninth) and Virender Sehwag, who jumped 14 spots to fifth after his knock of 293 against Sri Lanka, Fox Sports reported.
Indian opener Gautam Gambhir leads the batting table with Sri Lankan duo of Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara second and third. The only Australian to sit among the top ten is vice-captain Michael Clarke, who improved his position by one spot to fourth.
There is no change in the list for Test all-rounders with South Africa's Jacques Kallis leading the field by a comfortable margin.
Meanwhile, in the team rankings Australia had started the year in the number one spot, but face the embarrassing prospect of slipping to fourth if they fail to beat West Indies in the third Test at the WACA Ground.
Not even a draw against West Indies will halt the slide with Sri Lanka set to assume third spot on the rankings behind India and South Africa.
Team India is currently at the top of the ICC rankings after defeating Sri Lanka in the three Test match series, while not even a draw against West Indies will halt the slide with Sri Lanka set to assume third spot on the rankings behind South Africa.
