Cricket: Independent on Sunday rankings

The Independent on Sunday cricket rankings take into account all major matches played in England during the season, differing credit being given for runs scored and wickets taken depending on the strength of the opposition. Bowlers are also rewarded for economy and strike rate.

Compiled by Gordon Vince

----------------------------------------------------------------- INDEPEDENT ON SUNDAY RANKINGS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Batsmen ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 ( 1) G A Gooch (Essex) . . . . .1,857 2 ( 2) B C Lara (Warwickshire). . 1,845 3 ( 3) C L Hooper (Kent) . . . . .1,649 4 ( 4) G A Hick (Worcestershire) .1,590 5 (13) G P Thorpe (Surrey) . . . .1,472 6 ( 5) R A Smith (Hampshire). . . 1,437 7 (10) M N Lathwell (Somerset). . 1,381 8 ( 6) M R Ramprakash (Middx). . .1,375 9 ( 7) T R Ward (Kent). . . . . . 1,367 10 (14) A J Stewart (Surrey). . . 1,366 11 ( 8) D J Bicknell (Surrey) . . 1,322 12 ( 9) J P Crawley (Lancashire). 1,289 13 (17) M W Gatting (Middlesex). .1,284 14 (12) R G Twose (Warwickshire). 1,281 15 (15) M W Alleyne (Gloucestershire). . . . .1,219 16 (11) D Byas (Yorkshire). . . . 1,210 17 (-) M A Atherton (Lancashire). 1,201 18 (-) C J Adams (Derbyshire). . .1,161 19 (20) M B Loye (Northamptonshire). . . . 1,161 20 (-) H Morris (Glamorgan). . . .1,160 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Bowlers ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 (1) C A Walsh (Gloucestershire) 1,773 2 ( 2) J E Benjamin (Surrey) . . .1,654 3 (3) T A Munton (Warwickshire) . 1,620 4 (4) P A J DeFreitas (Derbyshire)1,611 5 ( 5) C E L Ambrose (Northamptonshire) . . . . 1,556 6 ( 6) F D Stephenson (Sussex) . .1,460 7 (11) C A Connor (Hampshire). . .1,361 8 ( 9) S R Lampitt (Worcestershire). . . . . . 1,304 9 ( 8) M M Patel (Kent) . . . . . 1,267 10 ( 7) S D Udal (Hampshire) . . .1,254 11 (10) N M K Smith (Warwickshire)1,211 12 (15) A C Cummins (Durham) . . .1,161 13 (14) P J Newport (Worcestershire) . . . . . 1,102 14 (12) D Gough (Yorkshire) . . . 1,090 15 (-) E S H Giddins (Sussex). . .1,025 16 (20) M Watkinson (Lancashire) .1,020 17 (13) D J Millns (Leicestershire). . . . . .1,018 18 (-) G W Mike (Nottinghamshire). 1,007 19 (-) J E Emburey (Middlesex). . 1,000 20 (-) R A Pick (Nottinghamshire). 1,000 -----------------------------------------------------------------