Gayle enters ICC Rankings just outside top 20

Hard-hitting Jamaican opener Chris Gayle following his explosive return to test cricket has re-entered the ICC Reliance Mobile Rankings for test batsmen at the number 21 spot.

Gayle who was playing his first test since April 2011, joins the list just outside the top 20 following his knocks of 150 and 64 not out in the first test win over New Zealand in Antigua over the weekend.

Kieran Powell, the other West Indian centurion in the Antigua test was also rewarded with a jump of 27 places.

He now sits at number 65 while Narsingh Deonarine moved up 12 places to 63rd.

Veteran left hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul continues to be the highest ranked West Indian batsman at number 4.

The batting rankings continue to be led by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakarra with Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, the other members of the top 5.

Over in the bowling rankings, Windies pacer Kemar Roach moved 6 places to a career best 10^th following match figures of 7 for 115 against New Zealand.

Skipper Darren Sammy (26) Fidel Edwards (29) and Ravi Rampaul who moved up a spot to 39^th are the highest placed West Indian bowlers.

There was however a big move for mystery spinner Sunil Narine who jumped 72 places to number 71 after bagging 8 wickets in the Antigua test.

The bowling rankings in the meantime is still headed by South Africa’s Dale Steyn.

Saeed Ajmal, Rangana Herath, Vernon Philander and James Anderson complete the top five.