New Zealand has climbed two places to third in the latest International Cricket Council Test rankings, as they prepare for the first Test against England at Lord's on May 21st.
Bowler Ben Wheeler appeals as Johann Myburgh is lbw during the four day game between Somerset and a New Zealand XI. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
South Africa has stretched its lead from Australia, with the Black Caps now just nine points behind their trans-Tasman rivals.
New Zealand is also third in the ODI rankings and sixth in the Twenty20 rankings.
India has climbed three places to number four, followed by England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
With the results from the 2011-12 season now dropped from calculations and outcomes from the 2013-14 series weighted at 50 percent, South Africa extended their advantage over second-placed Australia to 22 rating points.
India, though, gained the most from the update, as it meant that their 4-0 whitewashes at the hands of England and Australia were no longer taken into consideration.
The latest calculations had India with four more rating points, enough to move them up to fourth in the table, just behind New Zealand.
However, only three ranking points separate New Zealand in third, and Sri Lanka in seventh. Prior to the annual update, the gap between the third and seventh-ranked sides was seven points.
As fifth-ranked England will take on New Zealand in a two-Test series later this month and sixth-ranked Pakistan travels to Sri Lanka next month for a three-Test series, the series outcomes may well result in significant movements on the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings.
Some of the key series results from 2011-12, which are no longer in calculations, include: England v India (Eng won 4-0), Australia v Sri Lanka (Aus won 1-0), Pakistan v Sri Lanka (Pak won 1-0), South Africa v Australia (1-all draw), India v West Indies (Ind won 2-0), Australia v New Zealand (1-all draw), Australia v India (Aus won 4-0), Pakistan v England (Pak won 3-0), Sri Lanka v England (1-all draw), West Indies v Australia (Aus won 2-0) and England v West Indies (Eng won 2-0).
Some of the key series results from 2013-14, which are now weighted at 50 percent, include: England v New Zealand (Eng won 2-0), England v Australia (Eng won 3-0), Pakistan v South Africa (1-all), New Zealand v West Indies (NZ won 2-0), India v West Indies (Ind won 2-0), South Africa v India (SA won 1-0), Australia v England (Aus won 5-0) and South Africa v Australia (Aus won 2-1).
