ADELAIDE, Australia: Australian captain Michael Clarke (pictured) has regained his ranking as the world’s No.1 Test batsman after his record-breaking performance in the second Test against South Africa.
The 31-year-old’s masterly 230 in the first innings of the drawn Adelaide Test was his fourth double ton of the year -- a feat that saw him become the first batsman in Test history to post four 200s in a calendar year.
In the latest ICC rankings released late Monday, Clarke leapfrogged Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and South Africa duo Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis.
It is the third time Clarke has moved to the top of the table, having first achieved the ranking in August 2009 and then again surging to the summit in March-April this year.
Both times his stay was brief, which could prove to be the case again.
He leads Sangakkara by a slender 10 rating points margin and if the Sri Lankan manages a strong performance in the second innings of the ongoing Test against New Zealand in Colombo, he could reclaim the coveted spot.
Clarke began the year in 20th position and has surged through the rankings by scoring 1,309 runs to date at an average of 119.
Meanwhile, Australia selectors want Ricky Ponting to be part of the back-to-back Ashes series in 2013, coach Mickey Arthur has said, but the third and final Test against South Africa in Perth may be his last chance to reverse a run of wretched form.
Ponting scored a duck, four and 16 in three innings against the Proteas, sparking renewed calls for the ageing former captain to give up his place for a more youthful successor.
Ponting told Australian television earlier this week that he expected to have a “conversation” with selectors about his playing career in the near future, but Arthur said the 37-year-old already enjoyed their full backing.
“We back Ricky, we unanimously back Ricky Ponting to get us some runs,” Arthur, who is on Australia’s selection panel along with Clarke, told reporters.
“By his own admission, Perth is a big test for him and that’s by his own admission.
“He’ll leave no stone unturned in his preparation going into Perth and I’m backing him for a big score in Perth, no doubt about that.
“If Ricky’s scoring runs we certainly want Ricky Ponting around for six months, certainly the next six months. We want Ricky Ponting to go to the Ashes.
“Like any batsman, you’ve got to keep scoring runs, and that’s by his own admission.”
Agencies
