Record-breaking Flower hits the top

Outstanding Test batsman Andy Flower has made history by becoming the first Zimbabwean and the first wicket-keeper ever to go on top of the Pricewaterhouse world ratings after his heroics against South Africa.

The left-handed wicket-keeper/batsman moved two places up from number three to the top after his 341 runs in two innings against South Africa, the second best team on the International Cricket Council Test championship.

Flower's two century scores of 142 and 199 not out against the Proteas in the First Test which ended at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday lifted his points to 895, 18 ahead of second placed Australia captain Steve Waugh. Flower is now averaging 55.18 points while Waugh averages 51.87.

Long-time world number one Sachin Tendulkar of India is now ranked third on 866 points and an average of 57.18.

Only four batsmen, Waugh, Tendulkar, West Indies' Brian Lara and Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq (very briefly) have been to the number one position over the last six years.

Asked how it felt to be named the world's leading batsman at the moment, a humble Flower said that although he felt flattered, he is looking forward to the next match more than anything else. "I didn't know about that. It's nice and a bit flattering but to be honest what's important is how you play your next innings."

The recently ended Test saw Flower make all sorts of records.

On Sunday he became the first Zimbabwean batsman to score a Test century against South Africa with his 142.

The following day he reached another century in the second innings to become the first wicket-keeper and second Zimbabwean to score two centuries in a Test Match.

His brother Grant is the only other Zimbabwean batsman to have scored two centuries in a match with his 104 and 151 against New Zealand at Harare Sports Club in the 1997/98 season.

Andy's 142 in the first innings and the unbeaten 199 in the second saw him reach 11 Test centuries in 53 Tests. This is a record by a wicket-keeper ahead of former England keeper Les Ames (8) and current English 'keeper Alec Stewart (5).

Andy Flower ran out of partners in the second innings but helped Zimbabwe avoid an innings defeat. He was left stranded on 199, one run short of becoming the sixth player in Test history to score a century and a double century in one match.

He however, became the second player to score more than half of his side's total in two innings after South Africa's James Sinclair (106 and 4) against England way back in the 1898/99 season.

Flower's game has improved tremendously over the past 18 months and he is, no doubt, a worthy new member of the exclusive club of batsmen to grace the top position.

This year alone he has won four awards. In July he was named the Federation of International Cricketers Association/PwC international cricketer of the year beating seven other nominees. In the same month he was crowned the country's Sportsman of the Year.

He was also awarded the Nick Benator Floating trophy for the best all-round performance in the 2000-01 season at the Zimbabwe Cricket Union annual prize-giving ceremony in the capital.

On Tuesday evening he received the Extra Cover Cricketer of the Season award at a function held at a local hotel in the capital. The awards were based on votes submitted by Extra Cover viewers for the period between April and September.