Gayle slips to third in latest LG ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen

West Indian all-rounder Chris Gayle has slipped to third place in the latest LG ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen after a disappointing one-day series against Pakistan.

Gayle had moved up to second off the back of an excellent ICC Champions Trophy in India in October/November but the series in Pakistan was less fruitful for the 27-year-old Jamaican.

In four innings he scored 57 runs at an average of 14.25, much below his usual high standard.

Gayle's loss is Kevin Pietersen's gain, however, as the England batsman moves up to second position as a result of Gayle's demotion, while Michael Hussey remains firm in top spot.

Other big movers in the top 20 include West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul who, despite being on the losing team, had a good series personally and has moved up eight places to 20th position.

Meanwhile, Shahriar Nafees has become the fifth batsman in the world to score 1000 runs in 2007 (along with Gayle and Sri Lankan trio of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya).

Nafees is the first Bangladesh player ever to achieve that feat and he has managed to retain his place in 19th spot in the LG ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen in the process.

One player to slip down the list is Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq. He has fallen three places to 18th spot on the LG ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen.

Pakistan paceman Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has moved up seven places to 12th position in the LG Player Rankings for ODI bowlers following the series against Brian Lara's side.

In four ODIs, the 28-year-old took 11 wickets at an average of 11.81, an economy rate of 3.76 runs per over and a strike rate better than a wicket every 19 balls.

Despite winning the series, Pakistan has slipped one place on the LG ICC ODI Championship. It now sits in fourth spot, below New Zealand. The Black Caps begin a five-match ODI series at home to Sri Lanka on 28 December.

South Africa's Shaun Pollock still tops the LG ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders, clear of Gayle in second and Jayasuriya in third.

The biggest mover, however, was Scotland's Fraser Watts, who has shot up 123 places following his team's two-match ODI series in Bangladesh.

He still has a long way to go to threaten Hussey, Pietersen or Gayle, though, as he currently takes up 224th spot on the latest rankings. The 27-year-old has been a mainstay of the Scotland top order for several years.