Flintoff back in ICC top 10
2008-09-04 19:15
Johannesburg - How they've missed him. It will come as a surprise to few people that England's resurgence as a formidable force in ODI cricket has coincided with the return to form of its inspirational all-rounder, Andrew Flintoff, who has rocketed back into the top 10 in the latest ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers.
Looking at the statistics for the recent ODI series with South Africa, Flintoff appears at the top of almost every bowling category. He took the most wickets (10) at the lowest average (12.90) with the most niggardly economy rate (4.20) and the most penetrative strike-rate (18.40) of anyone who bowled more than five overs in the series.
His 3 for 21 in the fourth ODI at Lord's helped to secure a 4-0 lead in the series and third place for England in the ICC ODI Championship.
After that victory, Kevin Pietersen's team moved ahead of New Zealand by a fraction of a ratings point but rain at Cardiff denied England the chance of sweeping the series and thus moving ahead of the second-placed Proteas in the rankings.
Having moved up five places, Flintoff is now in eighth position in the bowling rankings, just behind Chaminda Vaas in seventh place and Muttiah Muralitharan in sixth.
Staying with the bowlers, Australia's Mitchell Johnson has moved up two places to third in the ODI rankings following strong performances in the first two ODIs against Bangladesh in Darwin.
Slipped three places
The 26-year-old Queenslander had combined figures of 5 for 27 in those matches and now enjoys the highest rating of his career, but he is still a long way behind Daniel Vettori of New Zealand in second position and Australia's Nathan Bracken at the top. With Stuart Clark in 19th spot and Brett Lee currently in 10th place, Australia now has four quicks in the top 20.
But bad news for Makhaya Ntini, he has slipped three places and out of the top 20.
In the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, Michael Hussey is up two places to second position ahead of the injured duo of
Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith. Hussey now sits just a single place behind number-one ODI batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India.
The other bad news for a defeated South Africa team, is that Jacques Kallis has slipped out of the top five in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders. His place has been taken by Chris Gayle of the West Indies and the list is still headed by that man, Andrew Flintoff.
- SAPA