Holder reaches career-best in ICC rankings

LONDON, CMC – West Indies captain Jason Holder has leapt to a career-best 25th spot in the International Cricket Council Test bowling rankings, following his outstanding performance in the day/night third Test which ended in Barbados Tuesday.

The 26-year-old seamer finished with career-best figures of nine for 60, though the effort proved in vain as West Indies lost the match by four-wickets inside four days at Kensington Oval.

He has moved up 11 spots, climaxing a series that saw him take 12 wickets overall in the three-Test rubber which was drawn 1-1.

Holder has also moved up in the batting rankings, climbing 10 spots to 54th, following his top score of 74 in the first innings at the Oval.

A stylish right-hander, Holder tallied 198 runs in the series at an average of 39.

The Barbadian’s excellent effort has also seen him jump three spots in the allrounder’s rankings to sixth.

West Indies wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, meanwhile, has also enjoyed movement in the batting rankings, leaping 14 spots to 51st position.

The right-hander, who was adjudged Man-of-the-Series against Sri Lanka, struck 71 in the first innings of the Barbados Test. He finished with 288 runs at an average of 57.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite is the highest-ranked West Indies batsman at 21st while speedster Shannon Gabriel is the best-ranked Windies bowler at 12th.

West Indies players can improve their rankings even further when they face off against Bangladesh in a two-Test series starting July 4 in Antigua.