• Subscribe RSS
  • Gambhir makes it to top of ICC Test rankings

    Gautam Gambhir became the number one batsman, replacing Pakistan run-machine Mohammad Yousuf in the latest ICC Test Player rankings issued Wednesday. Incidentally, Gambhir reached the top when the ODI batting chart is also led by his skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

    Yousuf, who had returned to the rankings last week at the top spot after his century in the first Test at Galle, flopped in the second to drop to fifth.

    Gambhir became the sixth India batsman to lead the batting table in the longest version of the game. The 27-year-old left-handed opener is the first Indian batsman after former captain Rahul Dravid to top the batting charts. Dravid had briefly become the number-one batsman after hitting centuries in each innings (110 and 135) of the Kolkata Test against Pakistan in March 2005. Dravid had first achieved the top ranking in January 1999 and had been number-one for 36 Tests between 1999 and 2005.

    Sachin Tendulkar is the other India batsman in the last 15 years who has topped the batting charts. He first led the table in November 1994 while the last time he occupied the number one position was in August 2002 after the Leeds Test against England. Overall, Tendulkar has been the top batsman for 125 Tests between 1994 and 2002.

    The other Indian batsmen to have achieved the spot are Gundappa Vishwanath (seven matches in 1975), Sunil Gavaskar (46 matches between 1978-80) and Dilip Vengsarkar (17 matches between 1987-88).

    Pakistan captain Younis Khan retained his second position but fell nine points behind Gambhir who, without hitting a ball, has gone ahead of both Pakistan batsmen for the first time in his 25-Test career. Gambhir’s 847 points is relatively low for a number-one position.

    Posted in Labels: |

    0 comments: