Marlon Samuels breaks into Test top 20

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates,  CMC-Reliable West Indies batsman Shriv Chanderpaul has moved to number three position while team mate Marlon Samuels has broken into the top 20 for the first time in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen.

Samuels breaks into top 20

Chanderpaul, ICC’s Cricketer of the Year in 2008, moved up to third after rising two places following his 150 not out in the West Indies’ 10-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Khulna.

Samuels and another team mate Darren Bravo have also been rewarded for posting big scores.

Samuels, who scored 260, entered the top 20 for the first time in his career after rising 11 places to 20th position while Bravo gained three places following his 127 and is now in 22nd position.

Michael Clarke regained the number-one ranking after a masterly 230 in the first innings of the second Test between Australia and South Africa which ended in a thrilling draw in Adelaide on Monday.

Meantime, West Indies’ pacer Tino Best figured in the list of biggest movers of the ICC test rankings released Monday.

Best’s second innings figures of six for 30 that led the Windies to second test victory over Bangladesh, was the cornerstone of his 14-place rise to 42nd spot.
Also, the West Indies has earned a point on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table after winning the series against Bangladesh by 2-0.

The drawn Test in Adelaide means number-one position on the Reliance ICC Test Championship will be up for grabs when Australia and South Africa lock horns in the third and final Test that starts in Perth on Friday.

While South Africa requires a draw to retain the Test Championship mace, victory in Perth will help Australia reclaim the number-one Test spot for the first time since July 2009, irrespective of how the India-England Test series pans out.