(CMC) – Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein is now the highest rated West Indies bowler in Twenty20 Internationals, after jumping 15 places to 18th spot in the latest International Cricket Council rankings.
The 28-year-old, who only made his international debut last year, finished the five-match Twenty20 International series against England in Barbados with eight wickets at an economy rate of seven and an average of 15.
Hosein has performed a key role for West Indies since his arrival, bowling in the all-important opening power-play.
In last Sunday’s finale at Kensington Oval, Hosein snatched four for 30 to change the course of the game and lay the foundation for West Indies’ 17-run victory and 3-2 series success.
Former Test captain Jason Holder, whose four wickets in four balls in the final over of that match sealed England’s demise, has also made upward movement in the rankings, rising three places to 23rd and also enjoying a healthy gain of 20 ratings points.
The 30-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder finished with five for 27 after sharing the new ball with Hosein.
Holder, who picked up four wickets in the opening game to help see West Indies to a dominant nine-wicket win, ended the series with 15 wickets.
Left-arm speedster Sheldon Cottrell also jumped ten places to 31st while left-arm spinner Fabian Allen moved up ten places to 35th, to round out the West Indies players in the top 50 headed by Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.
Meanwhile, left-hander Nicholas Pooran has overtaken Evin Lewis as the highest-ranked West Indies batsman, after jumping eight places to 18th.
The 26-year-old finished the series with 164 runs at an average of 41, including a top score of 70 in the third T20 International, to be the leading run-scorer on either side.
Lewis, who has not featured for West Indies since last year’s T20 World Cup in United Arab Emirates, has dropped to 23rd and is the only other Caribbean side batsman in the top 50.
Opener Brandon King, who enjoyed a revival in form with 122 runs at an average of 30, moved up 25 places to 58th, while his captain Kieron Pollard leaped 15 places to 60th.
Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam tops the batting charts with opening partner Mohammad Rizwan lying second.
West Indies players will have the opportunity to make further inroads in the rankings when they take on India later this month in a three-match series in Kolkata from February 16-20.
