Ashes heroes Bell, Anderson move ahead in ICC Test Rankings

Ian Bell and James Anderson, heroes of England’s 14-run win over Australia in the first Ashes Test, made impressive gains in the latest Reliance ICC Test Player Rankings released today. Bell, who scored 25 and 109, is back in the top 20 of the Reliance ICC Test Player Rankings for batsmen. He jumped five places to 17th. The other batsmen to move up in the latest batting rankings are Shane Watson in 43rd (up by two), Phil Hughes in 45th (up by three), Brad Haddin in 48th (up by two), Steven Smith in 52nd (up by five), Jonny Bairstow in 65th (up by three) and Stuart Broad in 67th (up by six). [caption id=“attachment_958225” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Ian Bell and James Anderson, heroes of England’s 14-run win over Australia in the first Ashes Test, made impressive gains. Getty Images[/caption] Debutant Ashton Agar, who created history by making the highest-ever score by a Test number 11 of 98, has entered the batting list in 60th place. The batting table is still headed by South Africa’s Hashim Amla with Shivnarine Chanderpaul of West Indies in second place and another Protea AB de Villiers in third position. No Indian is among top 20 of the batting list. Anderson, on the other hand, was rewarded for his match-winning haul of 10 for 158 with a rise of one place to sixth in the Reliance ICC Test Player Rankings for bowlers. Australia paceman James Pattinson re-entered the top 20 of the bowling list by jumping three places to now be placed at 20th. Pattinson’s pace partner Mitchell Starc has jumped 10 places to 44th. The bowlers’ table is still headed by South African Dale Steyn with teammate Vernon Philander in second place and Sri Lankas’ Rangana Herath in third position. The highest-ranked Indian bowler is off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin at seventh. PTI