The 37-year-old from Troon in Ayrshire followed his singles success in Norfolk by reaching the quarter-finals of this month's Co-operative Funeralcare Welsh Grand Prix in Swansea.

Foster enjoyed double success at Potters, where he also won the World Pairs title for the first time with Alex Marshall, his 2006 Commonwealth Games Pairs gold medal-winning partner.

While Foster holds onto the world number ranking for the second year in a row, Englishman Greg Harlow retains second place in the new WBT list after semi-final berths in both Norfolk and Swansea.  The City of Ely stalwart topped the rankings four seasons ago, since when his consistency has seen him hold No2 position for all but one season.

A mighty jump of seven places takes Scotland's Darren Burnett to third place.  The Dundee policeman made his breakthrough a year ago, winning the WBT's Swansea title – a success he consolidated by making the world championship quarter-finals this year, followed by the Welsh Grand Prix semis.

England's Mark Royal, the left-hander from Suffolk, rediscovered his form this season to reach the world semi-finals, en-route to winning the Welsh Grand Prix crown for the second time since 2008.

While Royal takes fourth place, fellow countryman Mervyn King moves up to fifth place – his highest position this millennium.  King, the 2006 world champion, began the season in sparkling form, winning the Co-operative Funeralcare Scottish International Open in Perth after pairs gold medal success in the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Former world number one David Gourlay caps one of his best seasons for some years by leaping five places to No8.  The 44-year-old from Glasgow came back from a disappointing first round exit at Potters to reach the WBT final in Swansea – an achievement which marked a record 15th World Bowls Tour singles event final for Gourlay.

Two new faces will grace the world's top 16 next season after successful 2010/11 seasons.  England's Nick Brett, the 36-year-old from Peterborough who reached the world semi-finals a year ago, rises two places to 15 – while Scotland's Stewart Anderson bursts into the elite list at 12.

Anderson, a 25-year-old from Ayrshire, reached the 2010 world championship final as a qualifier – then repeated his success later in the year in Perth by making the Scottish International Open final.

But next season's top 16 will also not feature two of its most popular figures Ian Bond and Kelvin Kerkow, from England and Australia, respectively.  Despite winning the season-opening World Matchplay title, 'Devon Destroyer' Bond failed to progress beyond the first round in two ranking events last season, and slips to 17.

Queenslander Kerkow, the 2006 Commonwealth Games singles gold medallist, also failed to deliver on the WBT's portable rink this season – and slumps to 19.

New Rank   (Current)            Points
1    (1)    Paul Foster    SCO    185
2    (2)    Greg Harlow    ENG    179
3    (10)    Darren Burnett    SCO    149
4    (3)    Mark Royal    ENG    145
5    (8)    Mervyn King    ENG    134
6    (5)    Simon Skelton    ENG    125
7    (4)    Alex Marshall    SCO    119
8    (13)    David Gourlay    SCO    110
9    (15)    Jonathan Ross    SCO    107
10    (10)    Andy Thomson    ENG    103
11    (12)    Robert Weale    WAL    100
12    (18)    Stewart Anderson    SCO    99
13    (5)    Jason Greenslade    WAL    92
14    (9)    Billy Jackson    ENG    82
15    (17)    Nick Brett    ENG    76
16    (16)    John Price    WAL    74
17    (7)    Ian Bond    ENG    70
18    (20)    Robert Paxton    ENG    64
19    (14)    Kelvin Kerkow    AUS    54
20    (24)    Tim Stone    ENG    47
21    (21)    Brett Wilkie    AUS    38
22    (22)    Steve Glasson    AUS    35
23    (28)    Robert Chisholm    ENG    34
24    (121)    Brett Arkley    ENG    30