James Anderson’s stunning performance in England’s victory over West Indies in Grenada has propelled him to a career-high second in the International Cricket Council Test bowling rankings.
The Lancastrian seamer hurried the tourists to an unlikely triumph in the second Test by following a spell of 8-3-16-3 with two catches and a brilliant run-out on the final morning, triggering a collapse that saw the Windies slip from their overnight 202 for two to 307 all out.
That left England requiring just 143 to move 1-0 ahead in the three-match series, a target which was comfortably chased courtesy of Alastair Cook’s 59 and 81 from Gary Ballance, the pair sharing an unbroken stand of 142 following Jonathan Trott’s early dismissal.
Anderson, England’s leading Test wicket-taker, claimed six victims in the match and has jumped three places to sit alongside Australia’s Ryan Harris.
Joe Root is also on the move, his man-of-the-match unbeaten first-innings 182 lifting the Yorkshireman five places into a career-best fifth position in the batting standings.
Ballance’s fine Test form continued with scores of 77 and 81, pushing him to a career-high 17th.