Chanderpaul regains rank as world’s top test batsman

Chanderpaul averaged 82 runs in the recent series and now tops the world rankings.

London, England (TDN) -- Shivnarine Chanderpaul the West Indies left handed batsman has regained the number-one ranking in the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen. His elevation to the top of the rankings follows an outstanding test performance against Australia in the recently concluded three test series where he averaged 82. He also became only the tenth player and the second West Indian after Brian Lara to accumulate 10 000 runs in Test cricket.

The only other West Indian batsman in the top twenty five ranking is Darren Bravo at number 20. Kirk Edwards, the West Indies vice captain is ranked at 44 and Ramnaresh Sarwan at 47 are the only other West Indians in the top fifty.

This is not the first time that the 37 year old Sarwan has been at the top having secured the top position in July 2008 after Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara had slipped from the top position after scoring 12 in his side’s 600-6 against India in the first Test in Colombo. Chanderpaul’s outstanding performance against Australia enabled him to go ahead of South Africa’s duo of AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis who are at two and three respectively.

Following his top ranked position in July 2008 he remained at the top of the table for the following seven months, before briefly dropping to second position in February 2009 when he scored one and 55 against England in the second Test in Antigua.

He, however, returned to the top spot three Tests later following scores of 147 not out and six in the fifth and last Test against England at Queen’s Park in Trinidad. However, in May 2009, he lost his number-one position to Pakistan’s Younus Khan falling as low as 15th in June 2010 before making his steady rise once more to the top of the rankings.

The highest West Indies ranked bowler is Kemar Roach who has a career-best 16th position after figures of one for 72 and three for 40 in the third test against Australia in Dominica. Off-spinner Shane Shillingford, who entered the series ranked at number 67 has moved up an amazing 21 places to number 46 after capturing 10 for 219, in the same test.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy is the second highest ranked West Indies test bowler at number 25, Fidel Edwards is at 27, Bishoo is ranked at 41 and Ravi Rampaul at 43. The bowlers’ table is headed by South Africa’s Dale Steyn with Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan and England’s James Anderson in second and third positions, respectively.

Meanwhile, on the heels of their 2 – 0 defeat of the West Indies, Australia has moved to third place in the ICC Test Championship rankings ahead of India. At the top of the table is England followed by South Africa. In fifth place is Pakistan followed by Sri Lanka, West Indies, New Zealand and Bangladesh.