On the day he confirmed his retirement, Andy Flower moved to the top of the Wisden World Cup batting ratings. The ratings are a form guide for how all World Cup batsmen have fared in the last 12 months. Flower knocks the prolific Matthew Hayden off his perch at the top even though he has played less than half as many innings as Hayden in the past year. But while Australia have handfuls of world-class batsmen, you can count Zimbabwe's on one finger. Flower has averaged just over 50 in his 15 innings and you have to wonder how Zimbabwe will cope without him.

With just one international game left in his battling career, Flower won't be at the top for too much longer, but it is a fitting end to a player who has done everything for his country - batsman, wicketkeeper, captain on the pitch, and political spokesman off it.

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