Holder tops ICC all-rounder rankings

Holder tops ICC all-rounder rankings
West Indies Jason Holder bowls to New Zealand during their One-day International cricket match in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Associated Press / New Zealand Herald; Christine Cornege

Captain Jason Holder has become the first West Indies all-rounder since the iconic Sir Gary Sobers nearly half a century ago, to top the ICC all-rounders rankings.

Holder, 27, third on the charts behind Bangladesh’s Shakin-al-Hasan and India’s Ravindra Jadeja at the start of the game, leaped to the top position following his unbeaten double century against England in the opening Test at Kensington Oval last month.

Sir Gary considered the finest all-rounder ever, was the last West Indies player to top the all-rounder rankings in 1974.

West Indies crushed England by 381 runs in the final session of the fourth day to take 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Holder struck a magnificent 202 from 229 balls in a record seventh wicket stand of 295 with Shane Dowrich, who struck 116 not out. That effort saw Holder jump 25 spots to a career-best 33rd while remaining l0th in the bowlers rankings.

The double century was Holder’s third triple figure scores in Tests following landmarks in Antigua and against Zimbabwe.