AUSTRALIA’s left-handed wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist went to the top of the world batting rankings announced on Monday.
India’s Sachin Tendulkar dropped to third behind West Indies star Brian Lara. The highest ranking South African batsman is Jacques Kallis at number eight with an average of 47.27. Herschelle Gibbs is the only other South African batsman in the top 10, with
an average of 40.49.
Gilchrist, the first regular number seven batsman to top the Test batting rankings, produced an awesome display against South Africa earlier this year to take his Test average to 60.00. He became the first Australian since Steve Waugh to top the batting list.
With no more Test cricket to play till Australia’s tour to Pakistan from September, Gilchrist’s chances of retaining the top spot depend on what Tendulkar and Lara do in the remaining two Tests in their current series.
Fellow wicketkeeper and lefthanded batsman Andy Flower of Zimbabwe was top for just three months late last year.
Inzamam-ul-Haq was another short-lived No.1, occupying top place for just a couple of weeks late in 1997. Now Inzamam is back in contention after his magnificent triple-century in Lahore lifted him to fourth.
Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan stays top of the bowling rankings. Shaun Pollock is the only South African in the bowling top 10 with an average of 20.72.
Test ratings issued on Monday:
Batsmen
1. Adam Gilchrist (Aus) 881 60.00
2. Brian Lara (WIs) 877 50.17
3. Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) 864 57.91
4. Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak) 852 49.40
5. Matthew Hayden (Aus) 836 49.06
6. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri) 827 49.25
7. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri) 818 53.00
8. Jacques Kallis (RSA) 783 47.27
9. Andy Flower (Zim) 776 52.30
10. Herschelle Gibbs (RSA) 764 40.49
Bowlers
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri) 918 23.38
2. Glenn McGrath (Aus) 908 21.91
3. Shaun Pollock (Rsa) 874 20.72
4. Shane Warne (Aus) 764 26.52
5. Saqlain Mushtaq (Pak) 710 28.52
6. Darren Gough (Eng) 702 27.57
7. Waqar Younis (Pak) 695 22.98
7. Andrew Caddick (Eng) 695 28.84
9. Chaminda Vaas (Sri) 682 28.68
10. Chris Cairns (Nzl) 680 28.80
– Sapa-AFP