Flintoff on top of the world

Andrew Flintoff heads up the ICC rankings after a fruitful NatWest series so far

Andrew Flintoff’s starring role in England’s NatWest Series victory over South Africa has taken him to the top of the ICC rankings for all-rounders.

Flintoff has jumped six places on the back of his 156 runs and seven wickets in a series England have already won by opening up a 3-0 lead with only two matches to play.

England’s success has also resulted in notable progress for captain Kevin Pietersen and seamer Stuart Broad.

Broad is up to a career-high fourth among the bowlers after his maiden five-wicket haul at Trent Bridge this week, while Pietersen is now seventh in the batting rankings.

While England are up to fourth in the team table and can go above South Africa into a best-ever second should they complete a whitewash, their opponents are on the slide, collectively and individually.

Captain Graeme Smith, who will play no further part in the series due to his elbow injury, has been deposed at the top of the batting rankings by India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has been in top form against Sri Lanka.

England opener Ian Bell is up seven places to 18th, having dominated a century opening stand with Matt Prior in the 126-run win at the Brit Oval yesterday.

South Africa’s AB Villiers has dropped out of the top 10, to 14th, after a poor NatWest Series so far.