RICKY Ponting has welcomed the ICC decision to give official status to the player rankings system devised by former England captain Ted Dexter.
Widely accepted for more than a decade as an accurate indication of ability, the key aspect of Dexter's system is that it takes account of the quality of opposition a player faces at Test and one-day international level.
Unlike traditional averages, runs or wickets taken against Australia – the world's best side – count for more in the rankings than those taken against Zimbabwe.
According to the rankings, the world's leading Test batsman is India's Rahul Dravid with Glenn McGrath the best bowler.
In a statement ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said: "The ICC has today taken over ownership of the rankings produced by Ted Dexter Associates and sponsored by PwC.
"We have been looking to develop an official system of player rankings for some time, and having studied a range of options we are of the view that these rankings provide the truest reflection of the relative merits of international cricketers."
Ponting leads the ODI Batting Rankings and said that he supports this official recognition.
"It's certainly a positive move that all of the world rankings are now under the one banner and hold official status," he said in a statement.
"Some of our players like to keep an eye on the rankings, to see how they stack up against the best from other nations.
"The rankings are a guide as to how teams and individuals are performing and, importantly, they're useful for cricket followers to get a feel for the state of the game around the world."
Dexter, a dashing England batsman during the late 50s and early 1960s, whose company will continue to be involved in the on-going maintenance of the rankings, expressed his delight that the system has been officially recognised.
"I congratulate the ICC on their initiative in giving these rankings official status for the first time," said Dexter, also a former England chairman of selectors.
"It gives me great satisfaction to know that the cricketing public will continue to enjoy their interest in the continuously changing standings of all the best players in the world," added the Sussex great.
The rankings will now be sponsored by leading Asian electronic goods manufacturer LG.