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This article was first published 13 years ago

Watson becomes top-ranked ODI all-rounder

Last updated on: April 15, 2011 15:03 IST

Image: Shane Watson
Photographs: Getty Images

Australia's Shane Watson has become the top-ranked ODI all-rounder and also achieved a career-best ranking to date in the Reliance ICC ODI Rankings, at the end of Bangladesh and Australia series which finished on Wednesday.

- Watson's world record 15 sixes, 15 fours

Watson beat Shakib Al Hasan into number-one position in the all-rounders' rankings after taking three wickets and scoring 294 runs in the series. He now leads the Bangladesh captain by a comfortable 44 points margin.

Watson highest-ranked Australia batsman

Image: Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan

Watson's scores of 37, 185 not out and 72 in the series also helped the 29-year-old Queenslander vault nine places to a career-best fourth position.

- Has Indian cricket peaked?

He is now the highest-ranked Australia batsman with Mike Hussey staying in sixth place, captain Michael Clarke rising two places to 11th spot and former captain Ricky Ponting moving one place up to 16th position.

For Bangladesh, Imrul Kayes climbed four places to 42nd position but Shakib slipped two places to 26th.

Mitchell Johnson rises in bowlers' rankings

Image: Mitchell Johnson

In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, Mitchell Johnson's seven wickets in the series have given him a lift of seven places and he now sits in sixth position. Brett Lee is the other Australia bowler who has improved his ranking as he has returned to the top 20 in 20th position after a jump of three places.

- 'As a batsman you got to be ready to adjust in IPL'

The news for Bangladesh bowlers is not very good as Abdur Razzak, Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza dropped in the latest rankings.

Razzak has fallen five places to 11th, Shakib slipped three to 15th and Mashrafe dropped four places to 36th place.

India keep No 1 Test ranking

Image: Team India

India and Australia won US $175,000 each for finishing as the number-one ranked sides in Test and ODI Championship tables, respectively at the April 1, 2011 cut-off date.

- IPL-4 coverage

India has been sitting on top of the Test Championship table since December 2009 while Australia are occupying the number-one position on the ODI Championship table since leapfrogging South Africa and India in September 2009.

In addition to the US $175,000, India also pocketed US $75,000 for finishing as the second-ranked ODI team, while South Africa also earned US $75,000 for ending in second position in the Test Championship table at the cut-off date.