LONDON, CMC:
WEST INDIES opening batsman Chris Gayle, boosted by his fine bowling returns against Zim-babwe, is the new world No. 1 all-rounder in the Pricewater-houseCooopers (PwC) one-day international (ODI) ratings.
In the new rankings released on Monday, Gayle replaced England's Andrew Flintoff as the top PwC ODI all-rounder after another sensational all-round performance that clinched the series against Zimbabwe.
In pushing West Indies to a 3-2 series win over Zimbabwe, the 23-year-old Gayle gathered 385 runs including two centuries at a remarkable average of 128.33.
He registered easily the best bowling average in the series - 12.57 runs for his seven wickets and his economy rate of 2.75 runs per over was far superior to any other bowler in the series.
Flintoff's position at the top, established after the England series in Bangladesh, had looked unassailable, but Gayle's outstanding contributions with bat and ball raised him to a rating of 536, putting him among the game's elite.
Gayle is currently second behind India's Sachin Tendulkar in the ODI batting ratings and 20th in the bowling, which is led by Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
Australian Michael Bevan is No. 3 in the batting and Brian Lara is the highest ranked West Indies batsman after Gayle, at seventh.
Gayle, who jumped nine places in the bowling rankings, is the highest rated West Indies bowler on the ODI list, ahead of pacers Merv Dillon (22nd) and Corey Collymore (23rd).
PwC's world top five ODI all-rounders
1. Chris Gayle (West Indies)
2. Andrew Flintoff (England)
3. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
4. Shaun Pollock (South Africa)
5. Heath Streak (Zimbabwe)
