Chanders 3rd among world’s batsmen

London—South Africa’s current dominance of the Test scene is highlighted by the updated player rankings which give them the No 1 batsmen, bowler and allrounder in the format.
The West Indies Shivnarine Chanderpaul is third among the batsmen behind Hashim Amla, who is also the No 1 ODI batsman, jumped above Michael Clarke after the Johannesburg Test to complete the trio. 

The other West IUndies batsmen in the top 20 are Marlon Samuels (17) and Darren Bravo (18), while there was only one bowler Kemar Roach (11), in the standout position.
Dale Steyn, who was Man of the Match after a career-best 11 wickets, and Jacques Kallis consolidated their respective No 1 positions. Amla made 37 and an unbeaten 74 at the Wanderers to move eight points above Clarke. Kallis had a solid all-round match, scoring a first-innings fifty then chipped in with three wickets.

“I am surprised and happy with my position as the No 1 ranked Test batsman. However, I’m also mindful that rankings change quite regularly,” Amla said. “It’s been a great year for our squad, and to be honest I still don’t think that I am the best batsman in our team. “What has been most pleasing though for us has been the all-round contribution from everyone in the squad that has been the main reason for our success over the last few years.

“Needless to say, it is always easier to be at the top of your game and successful when you are part of a winning team. Dale and Jacques have been tireless workhorses for the Proteas and continue to consistently put in quality performances for our team, it is no wonder that they are at the top of the bowling and all-rounder rankings.”

Steyn’s outstanding match, to follow a productive series against New Zealand, has given him a new career-best ranking of 908 to put him comfortably ahead of Vernon Philander in second position. There are almost 100 points between Steyn and the third-ranked bowler, Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath. Selected positions from the latest International Cricket Council Test player rankings released yesterday.

Results

BATTING
1 Hashim Amla SA 895
2 Michael Clarke (AUS) 887
3 Shiv Chanderpaul (WI) 879
4 AB de Villiers (SA) 844
5 Kumar Sangakkara (SL) 842
6 Alastair Cook (ENG) 836
7 Jacques Kallis (SA) 794
8 Ross Taylor (NZ) 769
9 Kevin Pietersen  (ENG) 759
10 Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK) 733
17 Marlon Samuels (WI) 668
18 Darren Bravo (WI) 661

BOWLING
1 Dale Steyn (SA) 908
2 Vernon Philander (SA) 857
3 Rangana Herath (SL) 809
4 Peter Siddle (AUS) 800
5 Saeed Ajmal (PAK) 789
6 James Anderson  (ENG) 759
7 Graeme Swann (ENG) 755
8 Pragyan Ojha (IND) 739
9 Morne Morkel (SA) 722
10 Ben Hilfenhaus (AUS) 721
11 Kemar Roach (WI) 698.