Anderson moves clear of Harris in rankings

England paceman James Anderson has moved into outright second position in the official ICC Test bowler rankings despite his team’s third Test defeat, ousting Australia quick Ryan Harris.

Anderson’s figures of 6-42 and 1-35 lifted him to a career-high 847 rating points, ahead of third-ranked Harris on 826.

The England paceman drew level with Harris in second spot after the second Test, when he took 2-47 and 4-43.

Harris, who is due to sit out next month’s West Indies tour due to the impending arrival of his and wife Cherie’s first child, will have to wait until the Ashes for an opportunity improve his rating.

England skipper Alastair Cook also improved his standing, reaping the benefits of his first-innings ton, moving up five places to 22nd position, his highest ranking since July last year.

Quick single: England slip one place in rankings

It was a different story for other England players after their disappointing result.

Ian Bell suffered the biggest drop, falling nine spots to 30th after his Barbados pair, while Jonathan Trott, who today announced his retirement from international cricket, fell six places to 47th.

Image Id: ~/media/206AF995886D40A7B12133DC31B5F0F0Ian Bell did not score a run in the third Test // Getty Images

Joe Root (seventh) and Gary Ballance (19th) both dropped two places.

West Indies trio Jason Holder, Jermaine Blackwood and Jerome Taylor leapt up the rankings, with Blackwood jumping 31 places in the ICC Test batmen rankings after scores of 85 and 47 not out, taking him to a career-high 37.

Holder’s 5-49 for the match – including 3-15 in the second innings - launched him 30 places to 51st spot, while Jerome Taylor moved up 13 places to 36th after taking 6-69.

The West Indies’ success in the final Test will no doubt give the team confidence ahead of next month’s two-Test series against Australia.

They gained three points to reduce the gap with seventh-placed India to 14 points in the Test team rankings, while England slipped to fourth.

Bangladesh batsman Tamim Iqbal was rewarded for his double ton in last week’s drawn first Test against Pakistan, climbing eight places to 26th alongside Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed, while Mohammad Hafeez’s highest Test score of 224 has propelled up him eight places to a career-high 34th.

Image Id: ~/media/3B70234A5A814EC3B681788F5B8BF4CATamim Iqbal played a major role in Bangladesh's first Test fightback // Getty Images

Pakistan middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq broke into the top 20 for the first time in his career after his score of 82, while Bangladesh opener Imrul Kayes also charged, moving 24 places to a career-best 67th after scores of 51 and 150.

Test Team Rankings

Image Id: ~/media/7E6DB340599D468E9E2734D22108CC6B

Test Batting Rankings

Image Id: ~/media/9BBFF80A853947CC9B1FC4B483AED05A

Test Bowling Rankings

Image Id: ~/media/37D37F65B3E14D248D9C71A668591C85

Source: icc-cricket.com