ICC Rankings – Swann Finishes 2009 in 3rd in the Bowlers

Swann finishes 2009 in third position in the bowlers` category after his man-of-the-match performance in the second Test against South Africa in Durban.

The 30-year-old took match haul of nine wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings and, that pushed him up by eight places, moving ahead of spin rivals Harbhajan Singh and Muttiah Muralitharan.

Swann`s form with the bat- he scored 85 in the first innings of the Centurion Test – has taken him to fourth position behind Australia`s Mitchell Johnson in the all-rounder`s list.

Stuart Broad has gained six places to seventh in the bowling rankings.

The picture is not as rosy for most of South Africa`s bowlers. Veteran pacer Makhaya Ntini has slipped four places to eighth position after failing to take a wicket in the match while left-arm slow bowler Paul Harris has dropped five places, out of the top 10, to 12th spot.

Dale Steyn has managed to cling on to number-one spot although he is now under significant pressure from Johnson, who is in top form in his side`s current series against Pakistan.

The Top Ten Cricketers of the Decade

Cricket South Africa’s decision to zero in on Graeme Smith as captain in March, 2003, when he had just turned 22, has proved to be the most inspired choice ever made. At that time, the selection looked an odd fit. Smith was unworldly, but grew up quickly.

According to the Courier Mail, Smith developed so quickly that he was asked to lead a World XI in a Test against Australia just two years after being made South African captain. At the age of 12 he had put a note on the family fridge predicting he would one day captain South Africa.

Smith deserves to be remembered as the player of the decade, not so much for his excellent batting but for having the poise to grow from a boy to a man under the unique pressures of leading the Rainbow Nation.
1. Graeme Smith:
Tests 78, Runs 6354, Average 49.64, 100s 18,
2. Adam Gilchrist:
Tests 91, Runs 5130, Average 46.63, 100s 15, Dismissals 397,
3. Muttiah Muralidaran: