Cricket: Swann tops ODI rankings

LONDON: Graeme Swann has been confirmed as the International Cricket Council’s number one One-Day International bowler after his recent series figures of 8-164 against Sri Lanka helped England beat the hosts in the last match. The Nottinghamshire off-spinner has displaced former New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori - who has sat atop of the rankings since June 2009 - after his consistent performances in the recent series against Tillakaratne Dilshan’s side. Despite the victory, England remain fifth in the world rankings while the Sri Lankans have now dropped from third to fourth behind South Africa. Middle-order batsman Jonathan Trott has moved up one place in the batsmen’s rankings to seventh while the enterprising Eoin Morgan has also moved up one place to 23rd.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2011.