Chanderpaul rises to career high

	Shivnarine Chanderpaul continues to be a run machine for West Indies © Getty Images

Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s outstanding performance in the second Test against Australia, in Antigua, which helped secure West Indies a draw, has lifted him to a career-best position of No. 5 in the world rankings.

Chanderpaul was twice unbeaten in the match, for 107 and 77, and claimed the Man-of-the-Match award as West Indies kept alive their hopes of squaring the series, although the Frank Worrell Trophy is now safely back with Australia. Chanderpaul’s double continues a prolific run of form, following on from his 118 in the first Test, and he currently averages 156.50 in the series.

In the past 12 months he has played nine Tests and scored 1,062 runs at 106.20, including five centuries on away tours to England and South Africa as well as this home series against Australia.

Chanderpaul is now level with South Africa’s Jacques Kallis and just three points behind Mohammad Yousuf. Michael Hussey currently holds the No.1 spot, followed by Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara.

West Indies’ captain Ramnaresh Sarwan just missed out on a return to the top 20 in after his fifth-day century. Sarwan scored 65 in the first innings and then 128 in the second and that performance has lifted Sarwan back to 21st place.

From the Australians, Simon Katich is the most significant mover following his first-innings century and has climbed 12 places to 56th.

After missing the first Test through injury, Jerome Taylor has climbed back into the top 20 of the bowling rankings. He took five wickets in the match – including Ponting in both innings – and moved up 12 places in the tightly packed rankings. It is the highest ranking of Taylor’s 19-match career and he is now just three points behind Matthew Hoggard in 13th spot, who is currently trying to force his way back into the England side.

Brett Lee strengthened his position in fourth spot and is also holding the highest rating of his career. Lee was the outstanding bowler in Antigua, with match-figures of 8 for 110, on a docile surface. This included a destructive burst of reverse-swing in the first innings. He is closing the gap on team-mate Stuart Clark, who is currently occupying third spot.

Muttiah Muralittharan is still in first position with Dale Steyn just behind him. With Sri Lanka hosting India in a Test series next month and South Africa playing in England around the same time, those two will be jostling for top place.

 For the full rankings click here.

 Source: Cricinfo