Hayden moves eight points clear of Lara

LONDON: Australian opener Matthew Hayden has moved eight points clear of Brian Lara in the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) world rankings for batsmen after smashing an unbeaten hundred against Zimbabwe in Sydney this past weekend. The 31-year-old Hayden, who unseated the West Indies captain as world number one batsman and world record holder earlier this month, has jumped up to 895 points in the computerised rating system, while the inactive Lara remains on 887 points. Hayden had led Lara 893-887 in the last ratings. Lara, unable to significantly impact his points rating because of inactivity with the West Indies idle since their home series against Sri Lanka in June, will have the chance to lift his standing on their forthcoming tour of Africa. Lara’s West Indies will leave the Caribbean this weekend for a three-month trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Hayden broke Lara’s world record 375 as the highest individual Test score when he scored 380 in the First Test against Zimbabwe on October 10, and a few days later vaulted above the 34-year-old Trinidad and Tobago hero on the PwC world list.

Ricky Ponting, following the 2-0 series victory by Australia over Zimbabwe, is up three places to third, followed by India’s Rahul Dravid, Australian Adam Gilchrist, and Inzamam-ul-Haq of Pakistan, with India’s Sachin Tendulkar slipping to seventh. Shaun Pollock, on the beaten South Africa team in the First Test against Pakistan in Lahore, loses his number one ranking, as Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan reclaims the number one bowling spot by default. Pacers fill the next three positions, with Australian Glenn McGrath third, Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar fourth, and Australian Jason Gillespie fifth.

PWC WORLD RATINGS
Batsmen            
1 Matthew Hayden (AUS)  895
2 Brian Lara (WI) 887
3 Ricky Ponting  (AUS) 847
4 Rahul Dravid (IND) 809
5 Adam Gilchrist (AUS) 806
6 Inzamam-ul-Haq (PAK) 797
7 Sachin Tendulkar (IND) 779
8 Mark Richardson  (NZ) 765
9 Marcus Trescothick (ENG) 751
10 Kumar Sangakkara (SL) 737
19th Shivnarine Chanderpaul WI -
25th Ramnaresh Sarwan WI -
35th Carl Hooper WI -
36th Chris Gayle WI -
39th Wavell Hinds WI -
48th Ridley Jacobs WI -
Bowlers
1 Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) 861
2 Shaun Pollock (SA) 855
3 Glenn McGrath (AUS) 831
4 Shoaib Akhtar (PAK) 799
5 Jason Gillespie (AUS)  758
6 Harbhajan Singh (IND) 721
7 Jacques Kallis (SA) 692
7 Daryl Tuffey (NZ) 692
9 Anil Kumble (IND) 679
10 Stuart MacGill (AUS) 667
13th Merv Dillon WI -
23rd Jermaine Lawson WI -
29th Corey Collymore WI -
31st Cameron Cuffy WI -
44th Pedro Collins WI -
49th Vasbert Drakes WI -