Anderson on course for Ashes despite rib injury

 

England pace bowler James Anderson celebrates trapping Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf (unseen) lbw during the third one-day international between England and Pakistan at The Oval in London, England on September 17. Anderson is expected to be fit for the Ashes showdown against Australia later this year despite suffering a cracked rib.

LONDON (AFP) - England pace bowler James Anderson is expected to be fit for the Ashes showdown against Australia later this year despite suffering a cracked rib.
Anderson reportedly sustained the rib injury while boxing during a recent England training camp in Germany and it was feared the problem may not have cleared up in time for the opening two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide.
England's defence of the Ashes begins on November 25 and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are confident the 28-year-old will be ready for the first Test.
An ECB statement read: "ECB can confirm James Anderson sustained a cracked rib during England's recent preparation camp in Germany.
"Anderson is continuing his training programme ahead of the Ashes tour and will fly out to Australia with England's Test squad on 29th October.
"It is anticipated that he will be fit and available for selection for the First Test Match against Australia in Brisbane."

Victorious Bangladesh team showered with gifts

Bangladeshi cricket team celebrate with the trophy after winning 

the last one-day-international against New Zealand in Dhaka on 

October 17. Bangladesh's national cricketers have been showered

with gifts including new cars and plots of land in the smartest part 

of the capital Dhaka after the team's home series victory over New Zealand.

 
DHAKA (AFP) - Bangladesh's national cricketers have been showered with gifts including new cars and plots of land in the smartest part of the capital Dhaka after the team's home series victory over New Zealand.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hosted a reception for captain Shakib Al Hasan and his men late Tuesday after Bangladesh recorded their first series win over a major opposition team with a 4-0 clean sweep of one-day internationals.
"It's a glorious accomplishment for the country. I'm so happy that I cannot express my delight," Hasina said as she handed car keys to players.
"I was working and watching the last match on television. I could not hold my excitement when it all came down to four runs in four balls."
Banks and big companies have also plied the team with gifts and cash prizes.
Shakib, 23, who was the man of the series, got two cars and extra bonuses.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board also presented bonus money of 5,000 dollars to each member of the side, board spokesman Jalal Yunus told AFP.
"The cash award is for winning four matches and the series," Yunus said.
Bangladesh is hosting the cricket World Cup with India and Sri Lanka between February and April next year.

Suspended Pakistan trio barred from academy

 

Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Aamer, (L), Mohammad Asif (C) and Salman Butt leave the team hotel in Taunton, in south-west England, in September 2010. Three Pakistani cricketers suspended over allegations of spot-fixing have been barred from practising at the national academy until investigations are complete, an official said Wednesday.

LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) - Three Pakistani cricketers suspended over allegations of spot-fixing have been barred from practising at the national academy until investigations are complete, an official said Wednesday.
Former Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) last month during Pakistan's tour of England, were turned away from the academy late Tuesday.
"A written decision is given to the players that they cannot practise at the national cricket academy while their case is on," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Nadeem Sarwar told AFP.
The three players have been practicing at the academy since being allowed to return to Pakistan by British police on the condition that they fly back to London whenever required.
They were twice interrogated over the allegations that they took money to bowl no-balls during Pakistan's Test against England at Lord's in August.
Salman last week told media he was eager to return to the national team.
"I am practising regularly so that if I am cleared I am readily available to play for the team," said Salman.
The ICC is to hear the three players' appeals in Qatar on October 30 and 31.
Wahab Riaz, who is also under investigation, has been included in the national team for the limited overs and Test series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates starting next week.

Younus cleared to play for Pakistan

Pakistan's former captain Younus Khan was cleared to play for his country on Wednesday after resolving a long-running battle with the cricket board.

LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) - Pakistan's former captain Younus Khan was cleared to play for his country on Wednesday after resolving a long-running battle with the cricket board.
"Younus has given a written undertaking which was required to clear him and he will be soon be back in the team," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi told AFP.
"Younus has got a letter of clearance," confirmed close friend, Basit Ali.
The 32-year-old batsman had been banned indefinitely on charges of violating a players' code of conduct after Pakistan's disastrous tour of Australia, which ended in February.
Six other players, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal, were also banned and fined.
Except for Yousuf, who retired, they all appealed against the sanctions.
A tribunal run by retired judge Irfan Qadir overturned the bans and halved the fines against six players. Yousuf was allowed to play on Pakistan's recent tour of England, which was mired in a separate spot-fixing scandal.
The PCB ordered Younus to apologise for statements made to the media criticising the cricket board for having taken strict steps, but the former captain refused.
Chief selector Mohsin Khan told reporters that Younus would be part of the limited over squad against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates.
After monitoring his progress, he may also be included for a Test series against South Africa, Khan said.
Experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf has been ruled out of the limited overs due to injury.
Pakistan plays the first Twenty20 match in Abu Dhabi on October 27.
Younus last played a one-day for Pakistan in January during the tour of Australia. He played the last of his 63 Tests in Sri Lanka last year.
He led Pakistan to its World Twenty20 title in England last year. He relinquished the captaincy after falling out out with team-mates in November.

N.Zealand told to 'step up' after Bangladesh flop

Bangladesh's Rubel Hossain (L) reacts after the dismissal of New Zealand's Kane Williamson (R) during a one-day international in Dhaka on October 17. New Zealand cricket chiefs on Friday ordered the Black Caps to "step up" in an upcoming Indian tour after a humiliating one-day series loss to Bangladesh.

WELLINGTON (AFP) - New Zealand cricket chiefs on Friday ordered the Black Caps to "step up" in an upcoming Indian tour after a humiliating one-day series loss to Bangladesh.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chairman Chris Moller said his board had "robust" discussions with captain Daniel Vettori and coach Mark Greatbatch after the 4-0 whitewash, Bangladesh's first series win against a major cricketing nation.
But Moller said the board decided against immediate action because next month's Indian tour was imminent.
"The players, especially the batsmen, need to step up and perform and prove what the team is capable of," he said.
Instead, the NZC announced the formation of a committee to review the structure of the game in New Zealand.
The committee will include Moller, former internationals Stephen Boock and Rob Hart, judge John Hansen, and three as-yet unnamed former players.
"The remit of that committee will run from the grass roots of the game right through to the elite level, including the Black Caps," Moller said.
New Zealand media have described the series loss as an all-time low for the country's cricket team and expressed fears it will face similar maulings during an upcoming Indian tour and at next year's World Cup.
The Black Caps will play three Tests and five one-day internationals against the in-form Indians.
The squad will be named on Sunday.

Upcoming Matches

Test Series
4th November 2010 New Zealand in India 2010/11 India vs New Zealand
12th November 2010 South Africa in United Arab Emirates 2010/11 Pakistan vs South Africa
12th November 2010 New Zealand in India 2010/11 India vs New Zealand
16th November 2010 West Indies in Sri Lanka 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs West Indies
20th November 2010 South Africa in United Arab Emirates 2010/11 Pakistan vs South Africa
20th November 2010 New Zealand in India 2010/11 India vs New Zealand
23rd November 2010 West Indies in Sri Lanka 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs West Indies
25th November 2010 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
1st December 2010 West Indies in Sri Lanka 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs West Indies
3rd December 2010 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
16th December 2010 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
16th December 2010 India in South Africa 2010/11 South Africa vs India
26th December 2010 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
26th December 2010 India in South Africa 2010/11 South Africa vs India
2nd January 2011 India in South Africa 2010/11 South Africa vs India
3rd January 2011 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
7th January 2011 Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
15th January 2011 Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
26th May 2011 Sri Lanka in England 2011 England vs Sri Lanka
3rd June 2011 Sri Lanka in England 2011 England vs Sri Lanka
16th June 2011 Sri Lanka in England 2011 England vs Sri Lanka
21st July 2011 India in England 2011 England vs India
29th July 2011 India in England 2011 England vs India
10th August 2011 India in England 2011 England vs India
18th August 2011 India in England 2011 England vs India

ODI Series
24th October 2010 Australia in India 2010/11 India vs Australia
29th October 2010 South Africa in United Arab Emirates 2010/11 Pakistan vs South Africa
31st October 2010 South Africa in United Arab Emirates 2010/11 Pakistan vs South Africa
2nd November 2010 South Africa in United Arab Emirates 2010/11 Pakistan vs South Africa
3rd November 2010 Sri Lanka in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs Sri Lanka
5th November 2010 South Africa in United Arab Emirates 2010/11 Pakistan vs South Africa
5th November 2010 Sri Lanka in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs Sri Lanka
7th November 2010 Sri Lanka in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs Sri Lanka
8th November 2010 South Africa in United Arab Emirates 2010/11 Pakistan vs South Africa
28th November 2010 New Zealand in India 2010/11 India vs New Zealand
1st December 2010 New Zealand in India 2010/11 India vs New Zealand
4th December 2010 New Zealand in India 2010/11 India vs New Zealand
7th December 2010 New Zealand in India 2010/11 India vs New Zealand
9th December 2010 West Indies in Sri Lanka 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs West Indies
10th December 2010 New Zealand in India 2010/11 India vs New Zealand
11th December 2010 West Indies in Sri Lanka 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs West Indies
14th December 2010 West Indies in Sri Lanka 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs West Indies
17th December 2010 West Indies in Sri Lanka 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs West Indies
19th December 2010 West Indies in Sri Lanka 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs West Indies
12th January 2011 India in South Africa 2010/11 South Africa vs India
15th January 2011 India in South Africa 2010/11 South Africa vs India
16th January 2011 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
18th January 2011 India in South Africa 2010/11 South Africa vs India
21st January 2011 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
21st January 2011 India in South Africa 2010/11 South Africa vs India
22nd January 2011 Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
23rd January 2011 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
23rd January 2011 India in South Africa 2010/11 South Africa vs India
26th January 2011 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
26th January 2011 Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
29th January 2011 Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
30th January 2011 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
1st February 2011 Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
2nd February 2011 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
3rd February 2011 Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
5th February 2011 Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
6th February 2011 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
19th February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Bangladesh vs India
20th February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs Canada
20th February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Kenya vs New Zealand
21st February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Australia vs Zimbabwe
22nd February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 England vs Netherlands
23rd February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Kenya vs Pakistan
24th February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 South Africa vs West Indies
25th February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Bangladesh vs Ireland
25th February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Australia vs New Zealand
26th February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs Pakistan
27th February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 India vs England
28th February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Canada vs Zimbabwe
28th February 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Netherlands vs West Indies
1st March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs Kenya
2nd March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 England vs Ireland
3rd March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Canada vs Pakistan
3rd March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Netherlands vs South Africa
4th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Bangladesh vs West Indies
4th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 New Zealand vs Zimbabwe
5th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs Australia
6th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 England vs South Africa
6th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 India vs Ireland
7th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Canada vs Kenya
8th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
9th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 India vs Netherlands
10th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
11th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Bangladesh vs England
11th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Ireland vs West Indies
12th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 India vs South Africa
13th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Australia vs Kenya
13th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Canada vs New Zealand
14th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Bangladesh vs Netherlands
14th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
15th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Ireland vs South Africa
16th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Australia vs Canada
17th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 England vs West Indies
18th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Ireland vs Netherlands
18th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 New Zealand vs Sri Lanka
19th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Bangladesh vs South Africa
19th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Australia vs Pakistan
20th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 India vs West Indies
20th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 Kenya vs Zimbabwe
23rd March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 not known vs not known
24th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 not known vs not known
25th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 not known vs not known
26th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 not known vs not known
29th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 not known vs not known
30th March 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 not known vs not known
2nd April 2011 ICC World Cup 2010/11 not known vs not known
28th June 2011 Sri Lanka in England 2011 England vs Sri Lanka
1st July 2011 Sri Lanka in England 2011 England vs Sri Lanka
3rd July 2011 Sri Lanka in England 2011 England vs Sri Lanka
6th July 2011 Sri Lanka in England 2011 England vs Sri Lanka
9th July 2011 Sri Lanka in England 2011 England vs Sri Lanka
3rd September 2011 India in England 2011 England vs India
6th September 2011 India in England 2011 England vs India
9th September 2011 India in England 2011 England vs India
11th September 2011 India in England 2011 England vs India
16th September 2011 India in England 2011 England vs India

Twenty20 Series
26th October 2010 South Africa in United Arab Emirates 2010/11 Pakistan vs South Africa
27th October 2010 South Africa in United Arab Emirates 2010/11 Pakistan vs South Africa
31st October 2010 Sri Lanka in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs Sri Lanka
21st December 2010 West Indies in Sri Lanka 2010/11 Sri Lanka vs West Indies
26th December 2010 Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
28th December 2010 Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
30th December 2010 Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/11 New Zealand vs Pakistan
9th January 2011 India in South Africa 2010/11 South Africa vs India
12th January 2011 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
14th January 2011 England in Australia 2010/11 Australia vs England
25th June 2011 Sri Lanka in England 2011 England vs Sri Lanka
31st August 2011 India in England 2011 England vs India

Aamir, Asif and Butt returning to Pakistan

Aamir butt Asif

Muhammad Aamir, Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif are on their way back to Pakistan. You can see their care free smiles, not a trace of guilt!

They are not charged by the Scotland Yard so is this the relief of getting away with what they did or they didn’t do anything?

These three players accused of spot fixing are due to return to Pakistan tonite. People are preparing for eid tomorrow so they may sneak out of the airport without being bowled over by tomatoes and rotten eggs or may be “shoes” which is the new weapon of public resentment.

They are innocent until proven guilty BUT who is responsible for the destruction of Pakistan cricket? They brought shame and humiliation to Pakistan. Even our respectable rulers said “hamarey sar sharam se jhukk gaye hain!!” (without realizing how many times their actions brought shame to us).

Anyway, what is done is done, so far. Once they get back their assets should be seized until case against them is finished. PCB should take some responsibility now. These are Pakistani players accused by a UK newspapers and investigated by their police. We should conduct our own independent inquiry to punish them if they are guilty or save them if they are innocent and are wrongly accused. Wake up Supreme Court! we may need action and direction from the Chief Justice.

Passing grade

It’s unfortunate that the least publicised aspect of the recently concluded one-day series between Pakistan and England seems to be the cricket itself which, surprisingly, ended up being of the highest calibre. Despite being labelled as “cheats” by everyone outside their hotel rooms and being deprived of the services of three of their best players, the squad came together and delivered an exemplary showcase of ODI cricket. Given the acrimony which besieged this series, the resolve required to make a fist of this contest has to be admired.

Suddenly, the World Cup doesn’t seem to be as daunting a prospect as it did a month back. With five months and 11 ODI's between now and then, it is worth examining the makings of a squad which may just form the crux of our campaign.

Umar Gul – 8.5 out of 10

Make no bones about it. Gul is the reason we took this series into a decider. He was crucial in both our victories, with the third one-day being a virtuoso tour-de-force. I shirk from giving him a full 10 because of the questions which will always surround his fitness. Also, Gul is a rhythm bowler and is always at risk of being thrown off his game, sometimes without the batsman even having to do anything to disrupt his flow. However, I’ll take his occasional useless spell or two if he delivers the way he did over the last two weeks.

Shahid Afridi – 8 out of 10

Let me clarify that on performance alone I would award Shahid ‘5’. His batting and bowling were incredibly disappointing. However, it’s his captaincy which earns him his marks. Afridi took over the reigns from Salman Butt in one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of Pakistan cricket and the fact that he was able to produce a series of such exceptional application and teamwork from a band of players in the eye of a storm cannot be overstated. To captain the Pakistan team one doesn’t need to be particularly tactically astute. Rather, one needs to possess an understanding of managing the weirdest and most high maintenance group of individuals in international cricket. Afridi possesses this capacity in spades, no doubt due to years of familiarity with his own weirdness and high maintenance issues.

Kamran Akmal – 7.5 out of 10

Give the devil his due. Kamran was our best batsman this series and can no longer be considered a short term solution at the top of the order. With a strike rate of 87 across 5 games he has made his case for the opening slot at the World Cup. We need to give ourselves every chance to exploit the fielding restrictions at the start given that our lower order prefers steady accumulation over domination and Akmal is relatively the most reliable flasher we have. I refuse to comment on his keeping which, while decent, is capable of dramatic deterioration in the next series.

Shoaib Akhtar – 7 out of 10

Akhtar bowled his heart out throughout this ODI series, even when it appeared his body wouldn’t sustain him. Bowling economically to boot, he reminded the world that his yorkers remain a force to be reckoned with. Forget the ball-tampering accusations. Compared to what’s gone on during this tour, fiddling with the seam appears almost noble in comparison. And don’t let that detract from the quality of pure fast bowling on display by Akhtar as he consistently churned out high quality spells. Does he have enough gas in the tank for the World Cup? Shoaib seems intent on proving to the world that he is more than an STD joke and that egotistical desire may carry him for the next six months.

Fawad Alam – 6.5 out of 10

Decent with the bat and easily our best fielder. Is that good enough for the selectors to keep the faith in Alam? I certainly hope so because Alam is a prime candidate for a batsman who can drop anchor in the middle overs and let the others build an innings around him. Add to that, he saves at least 10-15 runs in the field. Plus, he looks like the nicest guy in a team full of jerks.

Saeed Ajmal – 6.5 out of 10

No Pakistani player has any business being as consistent as Ajmal. Sure, his economy rate wasn’t up to scratch but he was a constant threat across all 5 games and alleviated the pressure on the faster bowlers. With Amir gone, we’re counting on him to raise his potency as a strike bowler. Needs to brush up on his death bowling and be willing to fire in a few more flatter, block-hole deliveries.

Abdur Razzaq – 6 out of 10

His bowling warranted a 4 but I’m awarding him 2 more points based solely on his tremendous innings in the fourth ODI which encapsulated the thrillingly unpredictable madness that is Pakistan cricket. Presents a quandary, though, as his place in the squad is at the expense of a specialist bowler. Are his sporadic fireworks worth the runs he is capable of leaking? His replacement better be a genuine wicket-taker and I see no one who readily fits that bill. Hafeez can always cover for Razzaq’s quota if the latter has a bad day and, in the flat sub-continental pitches, it’ll be reassuring to have Razzler up our sleeve if Afridi flops.

Asad Shafiq – 5.5 out of 10

It’s hard to believe this was Shafiq’s second international outing only as he carried himself like a pro for the most part of the series. His body language and straightforward technique oozes composure and his vital knocks in the second and third ODI played in dicey circumstances suggest a batsman who’s up for a scrap. Shafiq seems to understand his own game and may be the perfect foil to the likes of the Akmals, playing within himself while still keeping the runs ticking over at a fairly decent rate. Sure he succumbed to a few rash shots but that’s because Yousuf was pretty useless at upping the tempo. It’s too early to say, but the next five months may give us an inkling of whether we’ve unearthed our go-to batsman.

Mohammad Hafeez – 5.5 out of 10

Paired well with Akmal at the top of the order and the two consistently provided the team with solid platforms at a decent run-rate. He seems unable to figure out where to go with his innings once he gets past 25 even though he’s the likelier of the two openers to play a longer innings. Someone should tell him to take himself more seriously as a batsman as he has all the shots and none of Kamran’s rashness. His off-spin is crucial when Afridi is having a bad series, as was the case here, and should keep Shoaib Malik out of the team, thankfully.

Umar Akmal – 4 out of 10

What happened to our golden boy? Unlike his brother, Umar was unable to use the shorter format to redeem himself after a disappointing Test series. Showing flashes of brilliance in the first ODI, he declined steadily from thereon and, by the end of it, seemed incapable of doing the one thing we always complain he does too much. Hit out. He is still a shoe-in for our middle order and can probably turn things around in the space of a match. The series against New Zealand and South Africa will be crucial in reinvigorating a batsman who can take us to World Cup glory.

Mohammad Yousuf – 3 out of 10

Yousuf is not an ODI player. It’s as simple as that. For a batsman of his stature, if he isn’t contributing with substantial scores then he is not pulling his weight. Either incapable of switching gears or completely at sea when we need him most, he was lucky he had Shafiq around to provide him support. That same batsman may be the one who signals Yousuf’s departure from this format. On the other hand, I’d rather have him in the team than Shoaib Malik.

Mohammad Irfan – 1 out of 10

So what if this guy is tall and probably bowls a really good bouncer when he’s not on a stretcher. In the 12 overs he bowled I found nothing remotely special about him. We can only afford to have one lightweight in this team and, with Shoaib bowling with renewed passion for the game, I’d rather we stick with the Rawalpindi Express. Irfan certainly doesn’t justify excluding Razzaq at this point.

Australia slip to fifth place in Test rankings

The Ponting led side has slipped to fifth place in the ICC rankings for Test teams.

Following the 2-0 clean-sweep by India in the 2-match Test series, the Ponting led Australian team has slipped to fifth place in the ICC rankings for Test teams.

India had entered the series ranked number one and even if they had lost both matches to the Australians, they would still have been ranked number one.

India entered the series with 127 rating points, and they now have 130 points following their series win.

South Africa, who are second in the ICC rankings, are on 119 points followed by Sri Lanka with 115 points and England who have 112 points.

Australia, who started the Test series against India with 113 points, lost 3 points following their losses.

ICC rankings for Test teams at the end of the India-Australia series:

Ranking	Team	Matches	Rating Points
1	India	34	130
2	South Africa	29	119
3	Sri Lanka	23	115
4	England	39	112
5	Australia	37	110
6	Pakistan	23	83
7	West Indies	21	79
8	New Zealand	25	78
9	Bangladesh	19	7

Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar, thanks to his brilliant performance in this series, regained the number one spot on the ICC ranking for Test batsmen. He was ranked number three before the start of the series. On the other hand, Michael Clarke, who was in the 8th position before the series, is now out of the top ten.

ICC ranking for batsmen (Tests):

Ranking	Player	Rating Points
1	Sachin Tendulkar	891
2	Kumar Sangakkara	874
3	Virender Sehwag	819
4	Shivnarine Chanderpaul	807
4	Mahela Jayawardane	807
6	Jacques Kallis	791
7	Graeme Smith	787
8	V.V.S. Laxman	767
9	Ross Taylor	766
10	A.B. de Villiers	762

Zaheer Khan, who was ranked fifth prior to the start of the Australia series, has moved up to the fourth place, while Mitchell Johnson, who was in fourth, has now slipped to the 7th spot in the ICC Test rankings for bowlers. Harbhajan Singh, who was in the 9th place before the start of the series, has also moved up a place.

ICC ranking for bowlers (Tests):

Ranking	Player	Rating Points
1	Dale Steyn	887
2	Graeme Swann	858
3	Mohammad Asif	753
4	Zaheer Khan	744
4	James Anderson	744
6	Morne Morkel	739
7	Mitchell Johnson	735
8	Harbhajan Singh	679
9	Doug Bollinger	659
10	Mohammad Aamer	658