By JMB
December 5 2006

Matthew Hoggard is currently the fifth best bowler in test cricket according to the latest LG ICC Rankings. Hoggy's magnificent eight wicket match haul in the 2nd test was a rare bowling highlight for England who threw the match away on the final day. Hoggard who has been as high as 4th in March 2006 is Yorkshire's only representative on the Ashes tour. Despite England’s defeat in Adelaide, Matthew Hoggard has moved up three places to fifth in the current rankings for Test bowlers following his impressive individual performance. The Yorkshire bowler took 7-109 and 1-29 to become the highest ranked England bowler, ahead of Andrew Flintoff.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has moved up to joint-third in the all-time LG ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen after yet another outstanding performance. Having scored 142 and 49 in the second Test at Adelaide that finished today (Tuesday), Ponting moved up from sixth in the list, past England’s Peter May and level with another great England batsman Jack Hobbs. Ponting’s century at the Adelaide Oval was his 33rd in Tests and his eighth in his last nine matches. He now needs two more before the end of 2006 to equal Mohammed Yousuf’s record of nine in a calendar year, set just last week. The 31-year-old Tasmanian also needs two to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 35 Test centuries in a career.

In normal circumstances, Ponting could expect to be a long way clear of his nearest rival in the ratings for current players. However, with Pakistan’s Mohammed Yousuf in the middle of a real purple patch of form it means Ponting is just nine ratings points ahead. The two run machines are, in turn, a further 51 points clear of the third placed batsman in the current list, India captain Rahul Dravid.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has moved up one place to fourth overall in the batting list – his highest to date – following his first innings 158 in the Adelaide Test. Australian Michael Hussey has moved to sixth place – also a career best – at the expense of West Indies captain Brian Lara.

One of the biggest movers is England middle-order batsman Paul Collingwood, whose maiden Test double-century has sent him shooting up 16 places to 13th spot. It is the first time the Durham player has made it into the top 20. There are also career batting highs for Ian Bell (24th) and Brett Lee (88th) following the second Ashes Test.

The news is far from positive for England fast bowler Steve Harmison, who continues his fall down the rankings. Another disappointing match for the 28-year-old means he has dropped another four places to 19th on the list, his lowest ranking since 2003. It is also the first time that Australian batsman Damien Martyn has dropped out of the top 20 since 2004. He slips six places to 22nd position.

Test Batsmen
1 R.T. Ponting AUS 942
2 Mohammad Yousuf PAK 933
3 R. Dravid IND 882
4 K.P. Pietersen ENG 856
5 J.H. Kallis SA 815
6 M.E.K. Hussey AUS 814
7 B.C. Lara WI 801
8 Younis Khan PAK 786
9 K.C. Sangakkara SL 771
10 D.P.M.D. Jayawardene SL 770

Test Bowlers
1 M. Muralidaran SL 908
2 M. Ntini SA 830
3 G.D. McGrath AUS 818
4 S.K. Warne AUS 793
5 M.J. Hoggard ENG 761
6 A. Flintoff ENG 749
7 A. Kumble IND 736
8 S.E. Bond NZ 720
9 Shoaib Akhtar PAK 700
10 C.D. Collymore WI 690