Anderson Goes To World Number One

31 May 2016 | Cricket
England James Anderson has leapfrogged teammate Stuart Broad to go top of the ICC rankings for Test bowlers.

Anderson, who has taken 18 wickets in two Investect Test matches against Sri Lanka this summer – including three five-wicket hauls – has now passed 450 Test wickets.

He goes above fellow England opening bowler Stuart Broad, who is third in the rankings.

It is the first time Anderson has been Number One in his career, after bowling England to a nine-wicket victory over Sir Lanka at Chester-le-Street yesterday (Monday).

Anderson is the fourth England bowler to top the bowlers' charts, after Ian Botham first achieved the feat in 1980. Steve Harmison stormed to the top in 2004, while Broad's performance against South Africa in the winter earned him the Number One spot.

Dale Steyn, who has just signed for Glamorgan, remains in fifth placed on the list, which is as follows:

1. James Anderson (ENG)

2. Ravi Ashwin (IND)

3. Stuart Broad (ENG)

4. Yasir Shah (PAK)

5. Dale Steyn (SA)

6. Ravindra Jadeja (IND)

7. Trent Boult (NZ)

8. Josh Hazelwood (AUS)

9. Morne Morkel (SA)

10. Vernon Philander (SA)

England entertain Sri Lanka at The SSE SWALEC in Cardiff in the finale of the Royal London One-Day Series on July 2. Tickets available here.