This is a result of his career best performance of six wickets in an innings and nine in the match in the third Castle Test against Australia at Sahara Park Newlands which finished on Sunday.
Dale Steyn, ranked No. 2 behind Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, has closed the gap to just 11 points following his performance in taking seven wickets in the latest Test and 16 in the three-match series.
Makhaya Ntini (5) gives South Africa three bowlers in the top 10.
The Proteas are also well placed in the batting rankings with Graeme Smith at No 8 followed by Jacques Kallis (10), Ashwell Prince (11) and AB de Villiers (12). Hashim Amla is No. 23.
Kallis remains way out in front as the world's leading Test match all-rounder.
