AB and Tahir in top spots
AB DE VILLIERS has regained the top spot in the ICC player rankings for one-day international (ODI) batsmen after being the top run-scorer in the recent series against New Zealand, which the Proteas won 3-2.
The South African’s 262 runs in the series helped him overtake Australia opener David Warne at the top. It is the 10th time de Villiers, 33, has headed the rankings. He first took the lead in May 2010 and has ranked in the top five since September 2009.
England batsmen Joe Root and Alex Hales reached career-best rankings after the series in the Caribbean. Root reached fourth spot and Hales 16th.
Other batsmen to move up were New Zealand pair Martin Guptill, to seventh, and Ross Taylor, to 14th.
South Africa’s Imran Tahir is top of the player rankings for ODI bowlers, with teammate Kagiso Rabada breaking into the top five after taking eight wickets in four matches against New Zealand.
England all-rounder Chris Woakes’s seven-wicket haul against the West Indies saw him move up to the ninth slot.
New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner broke into the top 20 after his five wickets against South Africa. England’s 3-0 win over the West Indies meant a onepoint gain in the team rankings, but still fifth.
The West Indies also remain ninth, which means they will battle to qualify directly for the Cricket World Cup 2019 in England.
England and the seven highest-ranked sides in the ODI team rankings, at September 30, will qualify directly for the ICC’s global showpiece. The remaining four sides will progress from the 10-team ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018. - ANA