Cooper barrels up the rankings after ICC World Cricket League
Netherlands right-hander Tom Cooper has made an instant impact on the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsman as he has moved up to sixth place among Associate and Affiliate players and 65th position overall following his excellent performance at the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 (WCL Div. 1) tournament that concluded in Amsterdam yesterday.
Cooper, who was named player of the tournament, scored 408 runs in six innings, including one century and three fifties, at an average of 68.00 during the event, making him easily the top run-scorer of the tournament. The 23-year-old now has an impressive ODI average of 81.33 following what has been a top start to his international career.
The news is also good for Ireland's Kevin O'Brien. The big all-rounder from Dublin led his side to victory in Saturday's final with an unbeaten 98 as Ireland successful defended its title against Scotland, the team it had lost to in the final of the 2005 ICC Trophy. O'Brien gained 20 places for his efforts during the tournament and is now the second highest-ranked Associate batsman, in 51st position overall.
Mohammad Shahzad of Afghanistan scored 250 runs for his team and has gained no fewer than 44 places in the latest rankings. The man from Nangarhar, who turns 19 on Thursday, is now ranked in 56th position, just one place behind Ashish Bagai of Canada, who has gained six places over the course of the WCL Div. 1. The batting list is still headed by Netherlands' Ryan ten Doeschate, who currently occupies 30th position.
The biggest mover among the Associates and Affiliates in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers is Scotland's Gordon Drummond, who has broken into the top 100 for the first time in his career. The 30-year-old from Perthshire captured eight wickets at an average of just 17.37 over the course of the tournament and moved up 32 places in the process.
Other players to break into the top 100 of the latest rankings are highest wicket-taker Alex Cusack of Ireland, who is now sitting in joint-100th place with Jimmy Kamande of Kenya, and Mudassar Bukhari of the Netherlands.
Canada's stalwart opening bowler Umar Bhatti gained eight places and now sits in 69th position overall, putting him fifth among the Associates, a list that is topped by three Kenyans, spinner Hiren Varaiya and pacers Thomas Odoyo and Peter Ongondo.
The Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders makes for encouraging reading if you're an Ireland fan. Stand-in captain Trent Johnston and the in-form O'Brien have both broken into the top five following their impressive showings in Amsterdam.
Johnston, who is possibly in the best shape of his long and illustrious career, was again at the forefront of the Ireland bowling attack, bringing himself on to bowl at the key stages. In all he took eight wickets at 15.75 and an astonishing economy-rate of 2.73 runs per over. He also scored a crucial 42 not out in 28 balls during Ireland's 39-run win over Afghanistan.
That effort has moved the 36-year-old up 11 places to third place in the all-rounders' list, behind ten Doeschate and Odoyo.
With his contribution of 226 runs at 75.33 and eight wickets at 22.75, O'Brien has gained 17 places to sit fourth among Associate all-rounders.
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