Winning Windies rise up the ICC rankings

Cricket365
June 23, 2014

West Indies' players are on the march in the ICC batting rankings after the conclusion of the second Test in Trinidad, in which the West Indies beat New Zealand by 10 wickets to level the series at one all.

While Shivnarine Chanderpaul remained in third position after scoring 47 runs in the first innings, climbing up eight places to secure a spot just outside the top 20 was centurion Darren Bravo (109) in 21st position.

Chris Gayle also moved up two places. He was in 26th spot after knocks of one and 80 not out. Kraigg Brathwaite, who contributed 129 and an unbeaten 14, jumped up an impressive 35 places to secure 69th position.

This is the 21-year-old's highest ranking to date. Brathwaite previously captained the West Indies in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012, and ended the 2010 edition of the tournament as the second-highest run-getter, with 335 runs to his name.

Making an entry into the rankings table for the first time ever was the batsman from Jamaica, Jermaine Blackwood. Blackwood was rewarded for his 63 runs in the first innings with entering the top 100, in 67th position, with 390 ratings points.

The latest rankings contained good news for New Zealand batsmen as well. In spite of losing the Test by 10 wickets, Ross Taylor moved up a place to eighth spot on the rankings table.

Tom Latham, having played his third Test, leapfrogged 13 places to find a place just outside the top 50 at number 53. He scored 82 and 36 runs in the Port-of-Spain Test.

Meanwhile, in the rankings for Test bowlers, Jerome Taylor made the most impressive gains, marching up 38 places to occupy 38th position. The 29-year-old Jamaican, who had not played Test cricket since November 2009 following hip and back injuries, returned match figures of four for 34 and two for 73.

Teammate Kemar Roach retained 15th position with 659 ratings points. He claimed five wickets in the match for 135 runs. Ish Sodhi, who was the most successful bowler for New Zealand with four wickets for 96 runs, was rewarded for his efforts. He jumped seven places to 64th.

The two sides will face off in the third and final Test, which commences on 26 June in Bridgetown.