Bravo back in all-rounders’ top frame

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates,  CMC – Effervescent Dwayne Bravo is back among the world’s top five all-rounders after his second innings four-wicket haul for West Indies that threatened an upset victory over Australia in the third Test at Perth this past weekend.

In the latest Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings released yesterday, Bravo is back in the top frame at No.5 on the all-rounders’ list, up from sixth in the last ratings.

Bravo ripped through the Australian middle-order with figures of four for 42 off 17 overs as the hosts crumbled to 150 all out before containing the West Indies run-chase for a fighting 35-run victory on Sunday at the WACA.

The all-rounders’ list is still headed by South African Jacques Kallis, followed by New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori, Australian Mitchell Johnson and Shakib Al Hasan, of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Kallis has become South Africa’s highest-ranked batsman after replacing Graeme Smith in the top 10.

Kallis, who scored 120 and four in the Centurion Test against England, has climbed three places to eighth in the latest rankings.

India’s Gautam Gambhir remains No.1 ahead of Sri Lankans Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, with India’s Virender Sehwag fourth and Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf fifth.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, at No.9, is the only West Indies player in the batting top 10. Chris Gayle is the next highest West Indies batsman at 22nd.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting, after a moderate series against West Indies, has slipped two places to 14th, his lowest ranking since October 2002.

Batsmen outside the top 20 and slipping further down include West Indian Ramnaresh Sarwan at 27th, down three places.

West Indies middle-order batsman Brendan Nash, in his second year of Test cricket, gained eight places to No.43 after knocks of 44 and 65 at the WACA.

Bravo also gained on the bowling list, moving up three places to 27th while his teammate Sulieman Benn, who bagged three for 29 off 11 overs in the second innings in Perth, is up three places to 47th.

Injured pacers Jerome Taylor (18th) and Fidel Edwards (26th) are the highest rated West Indies bowlers on the list, headed by South African Dale Steyn ahead of Australian Johnson and Muttiah Muralitharan, of Sri Lanka.