McCullum takes over the top spot
England heads into ICC World Twenty20 2012 as the No 1 team, New Zealand's Brendon McCullum as the leading batsman, and Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal as the leading bowler, according to the latest ICC Twenty20 Player Rankings.
The rankings, which were released on Thursday, incorporate the Pakistan-Australia, India-New Zealand and England-South Africa Twenty20 series, which were forerunners to the ICC World Twenty20.
It begins on September 18, with host Sri Lanka taking on Zimbabwe in Hambantota.
McCullum's 55-ball 91 against India in Chennai helped move him to the top of the rankings table, while David Warner's 59 for Australia against Pakistan in the third and final match at Dubai, which included six sixes, has seen him leap six places up the rankings to fourth.
Yuvraj Singh re-entered the rankings after his comeback to action following his battle against cancer. He comes into the rankings in 15th spot and marked his return with 34 against New Zealand in Chennai.
The batsman losing the most ground was England's Eoin Morgan who has fallen from the No 1 spot to ninth.
Last week, Saeed Ajmal became the No 1 ranked bowler in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers.
His six wickets in the three-match series against Australia in Dubai helped him to take the No 1 spot in the world in Twenty20 cricket – overtaking England's Graeme Swann, who picked up three wickets in the three-match series against South Africa.
Shane Watson moved up eight places to seventh in the bowlers' table with his highest ever rating of 650. Watson also holds the number-one rank in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for all-rounders with his highest-ever rating of 475, achieved in the series against Pakistan.
Pakistan's Umar Gul has moved back into the top 20 in the bowlers' table with a four place rise to sit in 18th position.
Meanwhile, England heads into the ICC World Twenty20 2012 as the number-one ranked team on the ICC T20 Championship table.
England levelled the three-match series against South Africa 1-1 with a win in the third and final match to reclaim the No 1 spot. South Africa, now second, trails England by just one ratings point.
Pakistan's 2-1 series win over Australia has ensured that it retains its pre-series position of sixth, while George Bailey's team continues to be ninth in the rankings.
India has slipped to seventh from fourth position after its loss to New Zealand in the only game possible in the two-match series, while Ross Taylor's side is now ranked fifth.
