Chris Gayle topples Dravid to be on top of Ceat Cricket Rating

Mumbai, 6th December 2002 : West Indian opener Chris Gayle and 'Team Australia' have climbed to the top spot in the player and team rating at the expense of Rahul Dravid and India respectively in the latest Ceat Cricket Rating.

Gayle gained five points in the one-day series against Bangladesh to take his tally of points to 78, two more than the man who has stood at the top of the rating for a long time now, Rahul Dravid. Australia's third successive thrashing of their old foes England in the ongoing 'Ashes' series have taken them to a total of 62 points, two more than previous week's toppers India.

The West Indians are getting ready to play two Test matches against everybody's favourite whipping boys Bangladesh, and the Aussies will be playing England and Sri Lanka in a triangular series besides two more Tests against England. Given Gayle's and Australia's current vein of form, it does seem that Rahul Dravid and the Indian team will have to perform out of their skins to regain the top slots.

In the 'departmental' rankings however, the Indians still maintain their position at the top. Dravid has the maximum number of batting points (67) and Harbhajan Singh, sixth in the overall rating, has the highest bowling points (52). Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has the maximum number of fielding points (8).