All eyes on Swann in Ashes opener
England’s off-spinner Graeme Swann will have an opportunity to become the first English bowler in over six years to top the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers when the eagerly-awaited Ashes series begins in Brisbane on Thursday.
Swann is currently in second position but trails South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn by just six ratings points. However, a good performance at Gabba will potentially make the 31-year-old from Northampton the first England bowler since Steve Harmison to achieve the number-one ranking.
Harmison topped the bowling table in August 2004 after the Oval Test against the West Indies in which he had match figures of 9-121.
Besides Swann, England boasts fast bowler James Anderson (fifth) inside the top 10 while Stuart Broad sits in 11th position.
In contrast, Australia’s pace battery of Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus figure inside the top 20.
In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen, no batsman from either side figures in the top 10. Interestingly, this is the first time in the history of Test cricket and the first time since October 1979 that no Australia batsman has been inside the top 10.
The highest-ranked batsman is Australia’s Michael Clarke (14th) whose participation in the series opener is subject to fitness.
The other Australia batsmen inside the top 20 and eyeing upward movements are Simon Katich (15th) and captain Ricky Ponting (17th) while Shane Watson (25th), Mike Hussey (31st), Brad Haddin (40th) and Marcus North (45th) are the other home side’s batsmen outside the top 20 and aiming to improve their rankings.
England’s highest-ranked batsman is Jonathan Trott in 16th position while Kevin Pietersen is ranked 24th, captain Andrew Strauss is 26th, Ian Bell is 27th, Alastair Cook is 30th and Paul Collingwood occupies 32nd place.
Swann is also the highest-ranked all-rounder from either side in fifth position, while Watson is just two points behind in sixth position. The all-rounders’ list is headed by Jacques Kallis of South Africa.
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