Off-spinner Narine ranks higher

Off-spinner Narine ranks higher
AP Photo/Tom Hevez

West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine has moved up eight places to third in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) bowler’s rankings released recently.

This comes following West Indies 3-2 series loss to Bangladesh in the five-match One-Day International series which ended earlier this month in Dhaka.

Narine’s movement was driven by his successes in the series where he picked up nine wickets at an average of 21.55.

The right-arm bowler took 3 wickets for 38 runs in the final ODI, which the West Indies lost by two wickets in a thrilling finish at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Talismanic opener Chris Gayle suffered contrasting fortunes, dropping eight spots to 30th in the batting rankings.

Gayle, had a disappointing series with just 72 runs from five innings to lose ground in the standings.

The Jamaican left-hander, who had a bumper series against New Zealand in the summer, had a high score of 35 in the opening game that Bangladesh won by seven wickets in Khulna.

There was no such misfortune for Darren Bravo who jumped 13 places to 50th after a consistent outing in the series that yielded 161 runs at an average of 32.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach also saw progress in the rankings, returning to the top 20 at 18th moving up five places. He had a five-wicket haul in the fourth match. Captain Darren Sammy, who took six wickets at 26 runs apiece with his medium pace, also moved up six places to 35th in the rankings.

However, all-rounder Andre Russell and opener Lendl Simmons both suffered in the rankings as a result of their poor form in the series.

Russell, with nine runs from three innings including two ducks, fell 10 places to 46th, while Simmons, slipped four places to 44th after scoring just 22 runs in the first two ODIs.