Canada and the USA continue to lead the way in terms of playing numbers in the region according to the ICC's newly released participation rate survey for 2008.

Canada's numbers increased by 14,002 to go up to 33,204. The USA now has 23,533 players involved in their program.

Suriname continued their remarkable surge up the participation rate ladder, recording a figure of 14,418 while the Bahamas increased their numbers by an incredible 462%.

The Americas now has the highest number of players amongst all ICC regions with 100,991.

Total playing numbers (All categories)

1. Canada 33,204
2. USA 23,533
3. Suriname 14,418
4. Bahamas 14,350
5. Bermuda 3,826
6. Argentina 3,740
7. Chile 2,490
8. Belize 1,391
9. Cayman Islands 1,205
10. Cuba 797
11. Brazil 700
12. Panama 390
13. Costa Rica 248
14. Turks & Caicos 208
15. Falkland Islands 197
16. Peru 157
17. Mexico 137

Top 10 increases by percentage

1. Bahamas 462%
2. Peru 109%
3. =Turks & Caicos 73%
3. =Canada 73%
5. Costa Rica 56%
6. Falkland Islands 27%
7. USA 17%
8. Mexico 14%
9. Suriname 13%
10. Cuba 9%