World number one Chanderpaul stretches lead

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – World number one Shivnarine Chanderpaul has stretched his lead at the top of the latest International Cricket Council batting rankings, following his two half-centuries in the opening Lord’s Test against England last weekend.

Kemar Roach
Shivnarine Chanderpaul

The veteran left-hander has now moved to 878 rating points, 57 clear of the second placed South African batsman AB de Villiers who he recently replaced.

He is now 22 points shy of the 900-point mark yet again, which he last reached four years ago. Chanderpaul stroked 87 in the first innings and 91 in the second as West Indies put up a brave fight before losing to England and hour before tea on the final day of the match.

Batsman Marlon Samuels also enjoyed healthy movement in the rankings, jumping eight places to 55th after his second innings 86.

Opener Adrian Barath also made a leap in the batting rankings, rising 14 spots 60 67th following scores of 42 and 14.

There was no such luck, however, for vice-captain Edwards whose double failure at Lord’s saw him plunge nine places to 53rd. The right-hander scored one and nought.

Meanwhile, speedster Kemar Roach has jumped one place to a career-best ranking of 16th following his match-haul of six for 168.

His spell of three for 60 in the second innings put England on the backfoot for the first time during the game.

There was much for captain Darren Sammy to celebrate as he moved five places up to 68th in the batting rankings and two places to 23rd in the bowling rankings.

He is now ranked eighth among Test all-rounders.

ICC Test player rankings

BATTING:       

1 Shivnarine Chanderpaul   (WI)     878

2 AB de Villiers         (SA)     821

3 Jacques Kallis         (SA)     819

4 Younus Khan         (PAK)     797

5 Kumar Sangakkara     (SL)     779

6 Alastair Cook         (ENG)     778

7 Thilan Samaraweera     (SL)    772

8 Michael Clarke         (AUS)     771

9 Hashim Amla         (SA)     763

10 Ross Taylor         (NZ)     761

21 Darren Bravo         (WI)     683

53 Kirk Edwards         (WI)     465

55 Marlon Samuels     (WI)     443

67 Adrian Barath         (WI)     366

68 Darren Sammy     (WI)    357

BOWLING:

1 Dale Steyn         (SA)     886

2 Saeed Ajmal         (PAK)     835

3=James Anderson     (ENG)     783

3=Stuart Broad         (ENG)     783

5 Graeme Swann         (ENG)     773

6 Rangana Herath         (SL)     769

7 Vernon Philander     (SA)     764

8 Ben Hilfenhaus         (AUS)     756

9 Peter Siddle         (AUS)     740

10 Abdur Rehman     (PAK)     739

15 Kemar Roach        (WI)     644

23 Darren Sammy     (WI)     558

30 Fidel Edwards         (WI)     512