Hayden reclaims world No1 batting spot

LONDON: Australian opener Matthew Hayden has reclaimed top place in the latest Price WaterhouseCooper Test cricket batting ratings issued yesterday after his century in last week’s Test against Sri Lanka. Hayden hit 130 in a second innings total of 512 for eight declared as Australia recovered from a big first innings deficit to win the First Test in Galle by 197 runs. India’s Rahul Dravid is second in the rankings with Jacques Kallis of South Africa at a career-high third after hitting a fifth century in five Tests, an unbeaten 150 against New Zealand.

Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan remains top of the bowling ratings ahead of Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar. Shane Warne’s spectacular ten-wicket return to Test cricket catapulted him back to fifth place while Steve Harmison’s seven for 12 against West Indies in Kingston promoted the England fast bowler to equal ninth.

Test ratings:

Batsmen
 1. Matthew Hayden Australia 900 58.97
 2. Rahul Dravid India 884 57.42
 3. Jacques Kallis South Africa 878 55.07
 4. Ricky Ponting Australia 877 55.37
 5. Brian Lara West Indies 875 51.86
 6. Herschelle Gibbs South Africa 813 49.00
 7. Inzamam-ul-Haq Pakistan 811  49.85
 8. Sachin Tendulkar India 783 57.19
 9. Gary Kirsten South Africa 770 45.92
 10. Venkata Laxman India 756 47.39

Bowlers
 1. Muttiah Muralitharan Sri Lanka 910 22.86
 2. Shoaib Akhtar Pakistan 861 23.40
 3. Shaun Pollock South Africa 858 21.20
 4. Glenn McGrath Australia 790 21.71
 5. Shane Warne Australia 756 25.51
 6. Anil Kumble  India 748 28.31
 7. Makhaya Ntini South Africa 747 29.19
 8. Jason Gillespie Australia 732 25.54
 9= Daryl Tuffey New Zealand 703 28.33
 9= Steve Harmison England 703 25.76
   
One Day International ratings:

Batsmen
      Player Country Points Avg
 1. Chris Gayle West Indies 797 40.52
 2. Sachin Tendulkar India 779 44.80
 3= Ricky Ponting Australia 778 42.33
 3= Adam Gilchrist Australia 778 35.83
 5. Jacques Kallis South Africa 761 45.90
 6. Yousuf Youhana Pakistan 730 42.89
 7. Brian Lara West Indies 715 42.83
 8. Matthew Hayden Australia 712 42.03
 9. Virender Sehwag India 697 35.05
 10. Marcus Trescothick England 692 37.50

Bowlers
 1. Muttiah Muralitharan  Sri Lanka  885 22.42
 2. Shaun Pollock South Africa 880 23.47
 3. Chaminda Vaas Sri Lanka 829 26.92
 4. Jason Gillespie Australia 799 24.98
 5. Brett Lee  Australia 781 22.14
 6. Glenn McGrath Australia 780 22.38
 7. Andrew Flintoff England 774 24.62
 8. Jacob Oram New Zealand 768 29.70
 9= Heath Streak Zimbabwe 751 29.45
 9= Makhaya Ntini South Africa 751 23.30
(Reuters)