Aussies dominate rankings but Kiwis climbing Lynn McConnell - 13 November 2001
Just where do New Zealander's cricketers rate in the world?
Things are not as bad as some would have you believe, if you regard the figures with any respect.
The PriceWaterhouseCoopers rankings system of players has become the accepted standard of assessment and the latest figures provide some interesting reading.
Of the top nine Test-playing nations, New Zealand ranks only behind Australia in the number of players represented in the top 40.
Australia has nine batsmen on the list: Steve Waugh (placed third), Adam Gilchrist (6), Mark Waugh (equal 10), Justin Langer (17), Ricky Ponting (22), Matthew Hayden (24), Damien Martyn (28) and Michael Slater (31).
New Zealand has six players in the group: Craig McMillan (12), Mark Richardson (equal 14), Chris Cairns (18), Stephen Fleming (32), Mathew Sinclair (34) and Nathan Astle (37).
Sri Lanka's five are Mahela Jayawardene (5), Marvan Atapattu (26), Aravinda de Silva (27), Kumar Sangakkara (35), Sanath Jayasuriya (39).
South Africans has five: Jacques Kallis (equal 8), Daryll Cullinan (equal 10), Gary Kirsten (16), Herschelle Gibbs (21), Lance Klusener (40).
England also has five: Graham Thorpe (equal 14), Alec Stewart (20), Marcus Trescothick (23), Mark Butcher (36), Nasser Hussain (38).
Four West Indians are there: Brian Lara (7), Ridley Jacobs (29), Carl Hooper (30) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (33).
India has three: Sachin Tenulkar (2), Rahul Dravid (equal 8) and VVS Laxman (25).
Zimbabwe has only one in the list, Andy Flower, but he sits on top at No 1.
Similar standings apply to the New Zealand bowlers in the top 30 positions.
New Zealand sits second equal with South Africa and Pakistan, with four bowlers in the top 30, although Shayne O'Connor is in 31st place. Australia leads with seven bowlers on the list.
The list is:
Australia - Glenn McGrath (1), Shane Warne (6), Jason Gillespie (10), Colin Miller (equal 16), Brett Lee (19), Damien Fleming (20), Stuart MacGill (22).
New Zealand - Chris Cairns (8), Dion Nash (21), Daniel Vettori (26), Chris Martin (27).
South Africa - Shaun Pollock (2), Allan Donald (4), Jacques Kallis (14), Nicky Boje (30).
The latest ratings for New Zealand and Australian players involved in the current tour are:
Batsmen:
Rank Player Team Points Average Highest Rating
3 (-) Steve Waugh Aus 861 51.60 909 v WI at Melbourne 1996
6 (-) Adam Gilchrist Aus 804* 52.57 813 v Eng at Nottingham 2001
10= (-) Mark Waugh Aus 724 42.67 803 v RSA at Port Elizabeth 1997
12 (+1) Craig McMillan NZ 703 42.51 713 v Zim at Bulawayo 2000
14= (+4) Mark Richardson NZ 687* 52.86 687 v Aus at Brisbane 2001
17 (+5) Justin Langer Aus 682 41.80 767 v NZ at Hamilton 2000
18 (+4) Chris Cairns NZ 677 33.03 705 v Zim at Harare 2000
22 (-5) Ricky Ponting Aus 658 42.79 829 v Ind at Sydney 2000
24 (+7) Matthew Hayden Aus 655* 40.77 655 v NZ at Brisbane 2001
28 (-7) Damien Martyn Aus 628* 48.76 658 v Eng at The Oval 2001
32 (+1) Stephen Fleming NZ 617 36.89 676 v Eng at Auckland 1997
34 (-6) Mathew Sinclair NZ 606* 47.57 643 v Pak at Christchurch 2001
37 (+3) Nathan Astle NZ 601 35.88 648 v Aus at Wellington 2000
64 (+1) Adam Parore NZ 424 25.75 533 v SL at Galle 1998
81 (-4) Matthew Bell NZ 334* 22.85 359 v Pak at Hamilton 2001
83= (+6) Dion Nash NZ 317 23.51 324 v Zim at Harare 2000
93= (+1) Daniel Vettori NZ 279 18.07 309 v Eng at The Oval 1999
96= (+11) Brett Lee Aus 273* 26.11 293 v WI at Perth 2000
Bowlers:
Rank Player Team Points Average Highest Rating
1 (-) Glenn McGrath Aus 911 21.63 919 v Eng at The Oval 2001
6 (-) Shane Warne Aus 724 26.19 907 v Eng at Melbourne 1994
8 (+1) Chris Cairns NZ 682 29.20 733 v WI at Wellington 1999
10 (-) Jason Gillespie Aus 665 25.00 783 v Eng at Lord's 2001
19 (+12) Brett Lee Aus 581* 22.64 754 v WI at Perth 2000
21 (-2) Dion Nash NZ 567* 28.48 695 v WI at Wellington 1999
26 (-3) Daniel Vettori NZ 513 33.31 610 v Aus at Wellington 2000
27 (-1) Chris Martin NZ 498* 28.10 503 v Pak at Hamilton 2001
31 (-1) Shayne O'Connor NZ 461* 32.52 513 v RSA at Port Elizabeth 2000
54 (-1) Daryl Tuffey NZ 321* 36.26 324 v Pak at Hamilton 2001
Figures in brackets represent change in ranking since last ratings issued. An asterisk signifies player has yet to play enough Tests to attain a full rating.
