Close to eight years at the international level and yet, Suresh Raina the cricketer isn't content, says a report in The Mail Today, adding that having earned flak for not performing up to expectations in the T20 and ODI series against Pakistan, Raina worked overtime on his batting and the result is there for all to see - a Man of the Series award against England and a place in the top 10 of the ICC player rankings for ODI batsmen.
But it is not just about the shorter formats for one of India's vital cogs. Raina's mission is to get back into the Test side and cement his place, after having been part of just 17 games compared to 159 ODIs and 36 T20Is. Raina said his personal success had stemmed from the burning desire to score runs consistently.
"I think the desire within to make it as a permanent member of the Test team and the intent to play as many first-class matches as possible has really helped me a lot. And that is the reason for the success that I achieved in this series. This was my first Man of the Series award and I think the hard work that I put at the nets with [coach] Duncan Fletcher, [bowling coach] Joe Dawes and [fielding coach] Trevor Penney has really helped me," Raina told Mail Today.
Meanwhile a report in DNA says that Suresh Raina has broken into the top-10 of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Player Rankings for ODI batsmen for the first time in his career.
“Raina has jumped 15 places to 10th in the latest rankings released Monday. Raina was named player of the series against England after he scored 277 runs in the five-match series at an average of 92.33. Raina’s efforts also helped him achieve a career-best 669 ratings points,” says the report, adding that another batsman inside the top 10 to improve his ranking is England captain Alastair Cook, who has moved up one place to seventh.
“Outside the top 10, the batsmen heading in the right direction are Graeme Smith in 15th (up by six), Ian Bell in 23rd (up by six), Kevin Pietersen in 29th (up by one), David Warner in 35th (up by two), Kane Williamson in 36th (up by 18), George Bailey in 48th (up by three), Rohit Sharma in 54th (up by two), Lahiru Thirimanne (up by 12) and Faf du Plessis in joint 64th (up by three), Colin Ingram in 83rd (up by 14), Samit Patel in 86th (up by 10) and James Franklin in 90th (up by 13),” adds the DNA report.
Meanwhile Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal topped the bowlers' list followed by teammate Mohammad Hafeez in second place.
According to Indian Express, another Indian, Ravindra Jadeja has made all-round gains in the latest rankings. He has moved up nine places to 56th in the batting table and has jumped 15 places to a career-best eighth in the bowlers' list with best-ever 663 ratings points.
The combined batting and bowling performances has helped Jadeja move up two places to fifth in the all-rounders' table.
Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez continues to head the all-rounders' list followed by Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan in second place.