Rain has thwarted New Zealand’s chances of swapping places with Pakistan after the Napier Test ended in a draw. The BLACKCAPS, chasing 208 to win the Test and the series 2-1 in a minimum of 43 overs, was 90 for no wicket and required another 118 runs from a minimum of 23 overs when steady rain ended the contest.
A victory in Napier would have lifted New Zealand to fifth place on 84 ratings points while pushing Pakistan to sixth position on 78 ratings point. But in the end, the BLACKCAPS had to settle for gaining one ratings point while Pakistan stayed sixth on 83 ratings points.
In the latest Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen issued on Tuesday, Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf (sixth) and BLACKCAPS batsman Ross Taylor (tenth) have slipped one place but remain in the coveted top ten..
The batsmen to gain most from the Napier Test was New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who has achieved his career-best 25th ranking after improving by two places.
Fast bowler Iain O’Brien has retired in 21st position after rising five places following match figures of 6-143 with Vettori, slipping two places to 13th.
Vettori remains the second best all rounder in Test cricket, one spot below South Africa’s Jacques Kallis.
