Number-one ranked Chanderpaul extends his advantage

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n  the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen, the West Indies’  number-one ranked Shivnarine Chnaderpaul has extended his advantage over  second-placed AB de Villiers to 57 ratings points.Chanderpaul, who lifted the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after being named as the 2008 ICC Cricketer of the Year, had entered the Test with a lead over de Villiers of just six ratings points and over third-ranked Jacques Kallis of eight ratings points.

However, after scores of 87 not out and 91, the 37-year-old Guyana batsman has not only consolidated his number-one raking, he is now 22 ratings points away from breaking the 900-point mark yet again, which in ranking terms is the benchmark for any batsman. Chanderpaul last achieved a career-best rating of 901 after scoring 126 not out against New Zealand in December 2008 in Napier.

Other batsmen to head in the right direction after the Lord’s Test include Ian Bell in 17^th (up by two places), Andrew Strauss in 27^th (up by one place), Marlon Samuels in 55^th (up by eight places), Adrian Barath in 67^th (up by 14 places) and Darren Sammy in 68^th (up by five places).

Batsmen failing to hold onto their positions are Jonathan Trott in 16^th (down by two places), Kevin Pietersen in 18^th (down by one place), Darren Bravo in 21^st (down by one place) and Matt Prior in 25^th (down by one place).

In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders, there is no change in the top three but Sammy has moved up two places to eighth position.

The other bowler to move up the chart is West Indies’ Kemar Roach who has gained one place and is now in 16^th position after match figures of six for 168 to claim his career-best ranking.

The bowlers’ list is headed by South Africa’s Dale Steyn.

For more information go to www.relianceiccrankings.com.