ICC rankings: Ponting out of top ten batsmen for first time since 2002

Sydney, Dec 10(ANI): Australian skipper Ricky Ponting’s sub-par performance in the Adelaide Test against West Indies has seen him slide out of the world’s top ten batsmen for the first time since 2002.

The most recent figures released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) has Ponting sitting at 12th place, a drop of three spots. He is now behind New Zealand’s Ross Taylor (ninth) and Indian batsman Virender Sehwag, who jumped 14 spots into fifth after his recent 293 against Sri Lanka, Fox Sports reported.

Indian opener Gautam Gambhir leads the batting table with Sri Lankan duo of Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara second and third. The only Australian to sit among the top ten is vice-captain Michael Clarke, who improved his position by one spot to fourth.

There is no change in the list for Test all-rounders with South Africa’s Jacques Kallis leading the field by a comfortable margin.

Meanwhile, in the team rankings Australia had started the year in the number one spot, but face the embarrassing prospect of slipping to fourth if they fail to beat West Indies in the third Test at the WACA Ground.

Not even a draw against West Indies will halt the slide with Sri Lanka set to assume third spot on the rankings behind India and South Africa.

Team India is currently at the top of the ICC rankings after defeating Sri Lanka in the three Test match series, while not even a draw against West Indies will halt the slide with Sri Lanka set to assume third spot on the rankings behind South Africa. (ANI)

Aussies plan to delay Tendulkar record bid

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting said Tuesday his team will try their best to make Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar struggle for his world record in the upcoming Test series. Tendulkar needs just 77 runs to beat retired West Indies captain Brian Lara's landmark of 11,953 and is expected to reach the milestone in the four-Test series beginning in Bangalore on October 9. "I don't have too many great memories of him because he tends to score heavily against us," Ponting said. "I have the highest regard for him. He is a true champion, one of the all-time greats, and reaching this milestone would be a great reward for him. "But we are here to win and know pretty well that we have to dismiss him early if we are to win here. We have come here with a few plans for him and hope our plans click." Tendulkar, who has averaged 56 against Australia in 25 Tests, already holds three world records -- the highest number of runs in one-day internationals (16,361) and most centuries in Tests (39) and one-dayers (42). Key Australian paceman Brett Lee said he had been looking forward to bowling to one of the great batsmen. "He is a world-class player who has proved himself over more than a decade," said Lee. "You talk about Don Bradman, Lara, Sachin and probably Ricky. It is an honour to bowl to Sachin and getting his wicket is the ultimate prize." Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson said it was always a challenge to bowl to Tendulkar. "I don't want to make any prediction but I can say it is going to be a great challenge (to bowl to him)," said Johnson. Tendulkar said Monday he was not focusing on the world record but on the team's performance. "I just have to go and play my best. Records will come if you keep playing well. My mind is not on the 77 runs and it is not as if I can relax after getting these runs," he said. "For the four Tests against Australia the team has some targets and I am more focused on those." Tendulkar was recently declared fit for the Australia Tests after missing the one-day series in Sri Lanka last month due to an elbow injury. Australia play their only practice game before the series here from October 2. The Bangalore Test will be followed by back-to-back matches in Mohali, New Delhi and Nagpur.

source: www.cricbuzz.com