New Zealand overtakes Pakistan in ODI rankings after series win
- By Bilal -
- Dec 21, 2014
When the series in UAE started, Pakistan was at sixth place in the rankings followed by Kiwis at seventh place. After the conclusion of the series, New Zealand has joined Pakistan at 97 ratings points however, when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point, then New Zealand is ranked above Pakistan. As such, this means that the two sides have swapped places on the table.
Kane Williamson of New Zealand and Mohammad Irfan of Pakistan have achieved career-best rankings in the Reliance ICC ODI Players Rankings.
Williamson, who led New Zealand in the absence of Brendon McCullum, finished the series as the top scorer with 346 runs and has been rewarded with a jump of three places in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen. This has put him in ninth place, the highest he has been since making his ODI debut in August 2010.
Williamson, who captained New Zealand in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2008 in Malaysia, also became the top-ranked batsman from his side, leapfrogging Ross Taylor, who has stayed in 11th position in the which latest rankings which were released on Sunday.
Fast bowler Irfan is the other player who has achieved a career-best ranking. The lanky left-armer took nine wickets in the series, which has helped him rise 11 places to 16th in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Bowlers. He is now the only Pakistan fast bowler to feature inside the top 20.
New Zealand’s Matt Henry was the leading wicket-taker in the series with 13 wickets and, with those returns, he has rocketed 78 places to sit just outside the top 50 in 58th position.
Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi is the biggest mover in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI All-Rounders. Afridi took eight wickets and scored 205 runs, which has put him in 18th position in the bowling table (up by 19 places) and 44th position in the batting chart (up by 13 places), respectively. When these performances are taken together, they give him a lift of four places in the all-rounders’ category and a number-five ranking.