LaraLONDON, CMC
West Indies double world record holder Brian Lara kept his position as the world's number one batsman this week after his outstanding first innings century against Pakistan in the second Test in Kingston last weekend.
Lara lashed a compelling 153, with 20 fours and two sixes in the West Indies loss at Sabina Park - and retained top spot in the LG International Cricket Council (ICC) Batting Rankings this week ahead of South African Jacques Kallis.
His captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul sustained his top-10 ranking but slipped one place down to number nine as the Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq climbed to number eight after propelling his side to their 136-run victory at Sabina Park with an unbeaten second-innings century.
India kept two batsmen in the top five, Rahul Dravid at three and Virender Sehwag (fifth), sandwiching the Australian
captain Ricky Ponting, who is fourth.
Chris Gayle, at 24th, and Ramnaresh Sarwan (26th) are the only other West Indies batsmen in the top 30.
In the Bowling Ratings, where Australian pacer Glenn McGrath remained number one ahead of Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralthiran, the West Indies medium pacer Corey Collymore was the biggest mover on the world list.
The 27-year-old, who captured 11 wickets in the second Test, leapt 14 places up the rankings to number 27 and he is one
of only two West Indians in
the top-30 for bowling, joining his Barbados teammate Pedro Collins, at 20th.
LG ICC Rankings
BATTING:
1 Brian Lara (WI)
2 Jacques Kallis (SA)
3 Rahul Dravid (IND)
4 Ricky Ponting (AUS)
5 Virender Sehwag (IND)
6 Damien Martyn (AUS)
7 Adam Gilchrist (AUS)
8 Inzamam-ul-Haq (PAK)
9 Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI)
9 Marcus Trescothick (ENG)
24th Chris Gayle (WI)
26th Ramnaresh Sarwan (WI)
BOWLING
1 Glenn McGrath (AUS)
2 Muttiah Muralitharan (SL)
3 Shaun Pollock (SA)
4 Makhaya Ntini (SA)
5 Shane Warne (AUS)
6 Shoaib Akhtar (PAK)
7 Anil Kumble (IND)
8 Andre Nel (SA)
9 Matthew Hoggard (ENG)
10 Jason Gillespie (AUS)
20th Pedro Collins (WI)
27th Corey Collymore (WI)
