Ricky Ponting has rank Lara ahead of Sachin Tendulkar

Former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting has rank Brian Lara ahead of Sachin Tendulkaras he thinks that Brian Lara enabled his team win more matches then Sachin.

"Sachin and Lara were the two outstanding batsman for me. Sachin who scored a lots of centuries in One day and ODI and Lara won more games then Sachin probably has. I'd lose more sleep as captain knowing Lara was coming in to bat next day than I would with Sachin," said Ponting.

"You always found a way to restrict Sachin if you needed to. Lara on the other hand could turn all your strategies in half an hour and can take game away from you. For me, it has never been about making hundereds, it is about winning games and series," Ponting was quoted as saying by the 'Evening Standard'

When Australia goin for the Ashes
"I said 2-1 to Australia at the start and nothing has changed for me, no," he insisted.
"We've got a lot of hard work to do but it seems like things are on the right track. It is a Test match lost but for the Aussies it will reinforce them to think just how close they are and may be there's not that big a gulf between the teams.
"If they can take that away from the first Test it will do them good at Lord's this week. We have some very good young players. They are just starting to find their way and Ashes series tend to bring out the best in some," he added.

Bell and Anderson jumped in ICC test rankings

Ian Bell and James Anderson, heroes of England's 14 run win over Australia in the first Ashes test,
made impressive gains in the latest ICC Test Player Rankings released on Monday.
Bell, who scored 25 and 109, is back in the top 20 of the ICC test player rankings for batsmen. He jumped
five places to 17th.
The other batsmen to move up in the top 20 of the ICC Test player rankings are Shane Watson in 43rd(from 45th), Phil Hughes in 45th(from 48), Brad Haddin in 48th(from 50th), Steven Smith in 52nd (from 57).
The history maker Agar who scored his best score of 98 which is also best by a number 11 has entered the batting list in 60th place.
On the top of ICC rankings there is still Hashim Amla of South Africa and Shivnarine Chanderpaul of West Indies and Proteas AB de Villiers in 3rd position.
Anderson jumps by one place from 7th to 6th by taking 10 wicket haul for 158.
The bowler's table is still headed by South African Dale Steyn with teammate Vernon Philender in second place and Sri Lankan Rangana Herath in the 3rd podition.