Lara number two in world

LONDON: Triple world batting record holder Brian Lara, fresh from his achievement of becoming the game’s all-time leading aggregate scorer in Tests, has kept the number two spot in the world batting rankings. In the latest LG ICC world rankings released yesterday, South African Jacques Kallis remained the only player above Lara in the batting rankings, while Pakistan’s captain Inzamam-ul-Haq climbed one place to join Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting as joint number three in the world. The ratings showed only slight adjustments following Pakistan’s huge victory over England in the third and final Test in Lahore on Saturday.

There are three other West Indies batsmen in the top 30, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who slipped one place to 15th and Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who both improved two places to hold 27th and 28th spots, respectively. Shoaib Akhtar, whose fiery five-wicket haul propelled Pakistan to their innings and 100-run victory over the weekend, jumped three places to number four on the bowlers’ list behind number one Glenn McGrath, the Australian fast bowler, Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, and Shane Warne, Australia’s world wickets-leading leg-spinner. Only two West Indians appear among the top 30 bowlers, Corey Collymore at 22nd and his Barbadian teammate Pedro Collins, six places lower at 28th. (CMC)