Tuesday 9 August 2016 10:59, UK
James Anderson has reclaimed the No 1 Test bowling ranking following his efforts in England's victory over Pakistan.
Anderson's four wickets in the 141-run victory over third-ranked Pakistan earned him six points in the official rankings which edged him ahead of Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who snared six wickets against the lower-ranked West Indies.
Australia's Mitchell Starc, Sri Lanka's Dilruwan Perera and Chris Woakes of England are the other bowlers to make impressive gains in the latest rankings released on Monday.
Starc took 11 wickets in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka which guided him up eight places, Perera is up 11 spots following his 10 Australian wickets, while Woakes, who started 87th, has broken into the top 20 for the first time.
His five wickets in Birmingham helped him rise three places. He now has 39 wickets in 11 Tests, including 31 in five home Tests this season.
The world's top Test batsman is Australia's Steve Smith, ahead of England's Joe Root and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.
West Indies' Roston Chase, who scored a match-saving 137 not out against India, has rocketed 72 places to share 65th with Alex Hales of England, while Pakistan opener Sami Aslam, who scored 82 and 70 at Edgbaston, has returned to the rankings in 67th spot.
In the team rankings, Australia, India, Pakistan and England are all in with a chance to finish the month as the top-ranked Test side.
Sri Lanka's 2-0 lead over Australia in the three-Test series has thrown up a number of permutations.
- If Sri Lanka beats Australia 2-1, England-Pakistan series ends two-all and India beats West Indies by 2-0, then Australia and Pakistan will be on 111 points each but Australia will be ranked first.
- If Sri Lanka beats Australia 2-0, England beats Pakistan 2-1 and India beats West Indies 2-0, then Australia, England and India will be on 110 points each but England will be ranked first, followed by India and Australia.
* If England beats Pakistan 3-1 and India beats West Indies 3-0, then both England and India will be on 112 points each but India will be ranked first.
* If England-Pakistan series ends in two-all, Sri Lanka beats Australia by 3-0 or 2-0 and India beats West Indies by 2-1or 2-0, then Pakistan will become number-one ranked side.
Forthcoming Tests:
AUG 9-13: 3rd Test, West Indies v India, Gros Islet (live on Sky Sports 3)
AUG 11-15: 4th Test, England v Pakistan, The Oval (live on Sky Sports 2)
AUG 13-17: 3rd Test, Sri Lanka v Australia, Colombo
AUG 18-22: 4th Test, West Indies v India, Port of Spain (live on Sky Sports 5)
