Anderson on the up

James Anderson celebrates his ninth wicket, Chris Martin

James Anderson has moved to the highest world ranking of his career following his man-of-the-match display to help England secure victory in the final npower Test against New Zealand.

The 25-year-old Lancashire seamer claimed match figures of 9-98 after claiming a career-best 7-43 in the first innings to help clinch an innings-and-nine-run triumph at Trent Bridge, which sealed a 2-0 series victory.

It took his tally for the series to 19 wickets and has moved him up nine places to 26th in the world Test bowling rankings, the highest rating of his career.

Left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom remains in sixth place in the rankings, also the highest rating of his career, but his seven wickets at Trent Bridge closed the gap between himself and South African seamer Makhaya Ntini in fifth.

It caps a memorable last 12 months for England’s player of the year, who was lying in 108th place in the rankings on this day last year.

Fellow Nottinghamshire seamer Stuart Broad has also made a move up the rankings, climbing four places to 63rd with the ball but his Test-best 64 in the first innings at Trent Bridge has also moved him up 19 places to 80th in the Test batting rankings.

Prolific Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan heads the bowlers’ rankings with fast bowler Dale Steyn, who is due to tour England later this summer with South Africa, his nearest challenger and Australia’s Stuart Clark in third place.