DUBAI—West Indies speedster Shannon Gabriel has achieved a career-high in the ICC Test player rankings following his impressive outing in the second Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.
The 28-year-old jumped 10 spots to 38th in the bowler’s rankings, reward for his maiden career five-wicket haul in the first innings of the just concluded Test which West Indies lost by 133 runs.
Gabriel bowled with consistent pace throughout the game to claim five for 96 and one for 36 in the second innings and finish the contest as the Windies’ leading bowler.
His captain and fellow seamer Jason Holder moved up two places to 59th following a three-wicket haul in the first innings.
However, there were no West Indies bowlers in the top 20 with the highest player being the 25th ranked Kemar Roach who has not played a Test for the year.
Indian off-spinner Ravi Ashwin leads the rankings with South African Dale Steyn and England’s James Anderson, rounding out the top three.
In the batting, Jermaine Blackwood leapt 11 places to 41st, as he too was rewarded for his enterprise in the recent outing against Pakistan.
The right-hander made eight in the first innings but rebounded to stroke an attractive 95 in the second innings. He was joined by vice-captain and opener Kraigg Brathwaite who jumped three places to 32nd following scores of 21 and 67.
There was no such good fortune for stylish left-hander Darren Bravo, however, as he dropped one place to 21st after scoring 43 and 13.
Australia’s Steve Smith is the number one ranked batsman while Pakistani Younis Khan, who struck his 33rd Test hundred in the recent game against West Indies, has risen three places to second – his highest ranking in seven years.
