Chanderpaul, Roach lose ground in ICC rankings

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC) – Veteran West Indies left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul has slipped one place in the International Cricket Council Test batting rankings.

Chanderpaul, who turns 40 next Saturday, is now sixth but remains the highest ranked West Indies batsman and the only one in the top 20.

Left-handed stroke-maker Darren Bravo lies 22nd while opener Chris Gayle, who recently played his 100th Test, is 27th.

Chanderpaul has the chance to improve his ranking when West Indies square off with Bangladesh in a two-Test series in the Caribbean starting next month.

He has already played 156 Tests and scored 11,414 runs with 29 centuries.

The batting rankings are headed by Sri Lanka left-hander Kumar Sangakkara who has regained the number-one spot following his double century in the first Test against Pakistan last week.

South African AB de Villiers, the previously top-ranked batsman, has fallen to second.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Kemar Roach – the highest ranked West Indies bowler – has also slipped one place to 11th in the bowling rankings. The right-armer recently made a comeback to international cricket after being ruled out by a shoulder injury which required surgery.

He burst back onto the scene with a 15-wicket haul against New Zealand in the Black Caps’ three-Test tour of the Caribbean earlier this year.

Like Chanderpaul, he will have the chance to improve his standing when he suits up against Bangladesh.

South Africa speedster Dale Steyn continues at the top of the bowling rankings.