Trent Boult will start the ANZ ODI Series against Pakistan as the world's number one ranked bowler, while as a unit the BLACKCAPS have the chance to officially move up to third position.
Boult has replaced Australia's Mitchell Starc at the top, and leads Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, in second place, by seven points.
The BLACKCAPS will have the opportunity to move ahead of third-ranked South Africa in the official ODI rankings if they win all three matches against Pakistan, beginning today (Monday) at the Basin Reserve.
Since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Pakistan has played 18 ODIs, of which it has won eight and lost nine (with one no-result). The BLACKCAPS have played 16 ODIs in the same period, winning eight and losing seven (one no-result).
ANZ International Series: BLACKCAPS v Pakistan
25 Jan – 1st ANZ ODI, Basin Reserve, Wellington
28 Jan – 2nd ANZ ODI, McLean Park, Napier (d/n) buy tickets
31 Jan – 3rd ANZ ODI, Eden Park Auckland buy tickets
ICC ODI TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (as of 24 January)
1 Australia
2 India
3 South Africa
4 New Zealand
5 Sri Lanka
6 England
7 Bangladesh
8 Pakistan
9 West Indies
10 Afghanistan
11 Ireland
12 Zimbabwe
ICC ODI PLAYER RANKINGS (as of 24 January)
BATSMEN (top 10)
1 AB de Villiers (SA)
2 Virat Kohli (IND)
3 Hashim Amla (SA)
4 Kane Williamson (NZ)
5 Rohit Sharma (IND)
6 Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL)
7 Shikhar Dhawan (IND)
8 Glenn Maxwell (AUS)
9 Martin Guptill (NZ)
10 Ross Taylor (NZ)
BOWLERS (top 10)
1 Trent Boult (NZ)
2 Shakib Al Hasan (BAN)
3 Mitchell Starc (AUS)
4 Imran Tahir (SA)
5 Dale Steyn (SA)
6 Morne Morkel (SA)
7 Matt Henry (NZ)
8 Saeed Ajmal (PAK)
9 James Anderson (ENG)
10 Mohammad Irfan (PAK)
Earlier in the week, the ICC rankings for Twenty20 Internationals saw BLACKCAPS captain Kane Williamson and pace tyro Mitchell McClenaghan move into the world T20 top 10 for the first time.
Williamson moved up five places to a career-best sixth after he top-scored with 175 runs in the ANZ International Series, while left-am McClenaghan rose three spots into eighth position.
However, the biggest Kiwi mover was fast bowler Adam Milne. The right-armer was the leading wicket-taker in the Series, rewarding him with a jump of 26 places that has put him just outside the top 10, in 13th spot.
