Continuing his rise in international cricket, Monty Panesar became the
highest rated England spinner in 30 years by breaking into the top-10 of LG ICC
Test Rankings today.
With a tally of 23 wickets in the Test series against West Indies, Panesar rose
six places in the latest charts to join teammate Matthew Hoggard at the
sixth position on 721 points.
The 25-year-old left-armer is in the top-10 for the first time
in his career and is now the highest-rated England spinner since Derek Underwood
in 1977.
However, the slow left-armer still has some way to go to being
the top-rated England spinner of all time. That honour remains with Surrey legend
Tony Lock, who reached 912 ratings points during a home series against New Zealand
in 1958.
With three Tests coming up against India, Panesar is just one
rating point behind Shane Bond, who is fifth, and nine behind South African
Shaun Pollock and Anil Kumble at joint third.
Sri Lankan off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is still the highest-ranked
Test bowler with South African pacer Makhaya Ntini at second place.
In the batting list, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting
still tops the list with Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan at second place. Indian
skipper Rahul Dravid occupies the eighth spot followed by Sachin Tendulkar
at joint 16th position.
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