Dravid ahead of Lara in rankings

LONDON: After producing the best bowling figures of his Test career against Pakistan on Monday, Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has returned to the top of the PWC World Bowling Ratings. The 34-year-old McGrath, thought recently to be on the decline, produced stunning figures of eight for 24 off 16 overs to wreck Pakistan’s second innings (for 72), propelling his side to a massive 491-run victory in the first Test at Perth. A modest haul of three or four wickets at Port Elizabeth would have been enough for Steve Harmison to hold on to number one place, but instead the England fast bowler returned some of his worst ever Test match figures, one for 142 over the whole match in England’s win over South Africa yesterday.

McGrath is followed by Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, with Pakistan’s pacer Shoaib Akhtar at number three.  Pedro Collins, the Barbadian fast bowler, is the highest rated West Indian on the world bowlers’ list, appearing at 23rd. In the batting ratings, India’s Rahul Dravid is number one and West Indies’ double world record holder Brian Lara is number two, followed by Jacques Kallis (South Africa) and India’s Virender Sehwag. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, at 18th, Ramnaresh Sarwan (23rd), and Chris Gayle (24th) are the only other West Indies batsmen in the top-25.

Batsmen: 1 Rahul Dravid (Ind); 2 Brian Lara (WI); 3 Jacques Kallis (SA); 4 Virender Sehwag  (Ind); 5 Ricky Ponting (Aus); 6 Matthew Hayden (Aus); 7 Sachin Tendulkar (Ind); 8 Damien Martyn (Aus); 9 Justin Langer (Aus); 10 Kumar Sangakkara (SL); 18 Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI); 23 Ramnaresh Sarwan (WI); 24 Chris Gayle (WI).
Bowlers:1 Glenn McGrath (Aus); 2 Muttiah Muralitharan (SL); 3 Shoaib Akhtar (Pak); 4 Steve Harmison (Eng); 5 Shaun Pollock (SA); 6 Jason Gillespie (Aus); 7 Anil Kumble (Ind); 8 Shane Warne (Aus); 9 Makhaya Ntini (SA); 10 Chaminda Vaas (SL); 23 Pedro Collins (WI).