England’s Anderson becomes No. 1 test bowler in ICC rankings

DUBAI: England’s fast bowler James Anderson has leapfrogged his new-ball partner Stuart Broad to become the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings.

This is the first time Anderson has occupied the top of the table in his Test career, which began in 2003, ESPN cricinfo reported Tuesday.

Anderson has picked up 18 wickets in the first two Tests of the ongoing home series against Sri Lanka, collecting 79 points in that period and gaining four spots in the rankings.

His figures of 3 for 36 and 5 for 58 in the second Test in Chester-le-Street gave him 30 points, and moved him above Broad and India offspinner R Ashwin. Broad, who took five wickets in the second Test, dropped three points and slipped behind Ashwin to third place.

Moeen Ali, who scored a career-best unbeaten 155 in England's first innings, achieved his highest batting ranking, jumping 12 places to No. 35. He has also moved to sixth on the allrounders' list, and sits a point behind his team-mate Ben Stokes.