Aussies dominate rankings but Kiwis climbing
Just where do New Zealander’s cricketers rate in the world
Lynn McConnell13-Nov-2001Just 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).Pakistan has three: Inzamam-ul-Haq (4), Saeed Anwar (13), Yousuf Youhana (19).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).Pakistan – Waqar Younis (7), Saqlain Mushtaq (9), Wasim Akram (16), Arshad Khan (24).England – Darren Gough (5), Andrew Caddick (18), Dominic Cork (25).India – Anil Kumble (11), Harbhajan Singh (12), Javagal Srinath (15).Sri Lanka – Muttiah Muralitharan (3), Chaminda Vaas (23).West Indies – Mervyn Dillon (equal 28), Dinanath Ramnarine (equal 28).Zimbabwe – Heath Streak (13).The latest ratings for New Zealand and Australian players involved in the current tour are:Batsmen:
Rank Player Team Points Average Highest Rating3 (-) Steve Waugh Aus 861 51.60 909 v WI at Melbourne 19966 (-) Adam Gilchrist Aus 804* 52.57 813 v Eng at Nottingham 200110= (-) Mark Waugh Aus 724 42.67 803 v RSA at Port Elizabeth 199712 (+1) Craig McMillan NZ 703 42.51 713 v Zim at Bulawayo 200014= (+4) Mark Richardson NZ 687* 52.86 687 v Aus at Brisbane 200117 (+5) Justin Langer Aus 682 41.80 767 v NZ at Hamilton 200018 (+4) Chris Cairns NZ 677 33.03 705 v Zim at Harare 200022 (-5) Ricky Ponting Aus 658 42.79 829 v Ind at Sydney 200024 (+7) Matthew Hayden Aus 655* 40.77 655 v NZ at Brisbane 200128 (-7) Damien Martyn Aus 628* 48.76 658 v Eng at The Oval 200132 (+1) Stephen Fleming NZ 617 36.89 676 v Eng at Auckland 199734 (-6) Mathew Sinclair NZ 606* 47.57 643 v Pak at Christchurch 200137 (+3) Nathan Astle NZ 601 35.88 648 v Aus at Wellington 200064 (+1) Adam Parore NZ 424 25.75 533 v SL at Galle 199881 (-4) Matthew Bell NZ 334* 22.85 359 v Pak at Hamilton 200183= (+6) Dion Nash NZ 317 23.51 324 v Zim at Harare 200093= (+1) Daniel Vettori NZ 279 18.07 309 v Eng at The Oval 199996= (+11) Brett Lee Aus 273* 26.11 293 v WI at Perth 2000
Bowlers:
Rank Player Team Points Average Highest Rating1 (-) Glenn McGrath Aus 911 21.63 919 v Eng at The Oval 20016 (-) Shane Warne Aus 724 26.19 907 v Eng at Melbourne 19948 (+1) Chris Cairns NZ 682 29.20 733 v WI at Wellington 199910 (-) Jason Gillespie Aus 665 25.00 783 v Eng at Lord's 200119 (+12) Brett Lee Aus 581* 22.64 754 v WI at Perth 200021 (-2) Dion Nash NZ 567* 28.48 695 v WI at Wellington 199926 (-3) Daniel Vettori NZ 513 33.31 610 v Aus at Wellington 200027 (-1) Chris Martin NZ 498* 28.10 503 v Pak at Hamilton 200131 (-1) Shayne O'Connor NZ 461* 32.52 513 v RSA at Port Elizabeth 200054 (-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.