New Zealand aiming to widen gap on Windies

LONDON:  New Zealand’s Test cricketers, currently ranked seventh in the world rankings, will be aiming to widen the gap on eighth-ranked West Indies when they start their two-match series on tour of Bangladesh today. New Zealand will improve rating by one point with 2-0 win in Bangladesh. They must win both matches of the two-match series to improve their rating from 94 to 95 points and get closer to sixth-rated South Africa (102). West Indies have a current points rating of 73 in eighth place, 21 behind New Zealand.  If Bangladesh can draw one of the matches, they will improve their rating from one point to two points.

Meanwhile, if Pakistan can win both matches of their forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, they will climb to second in the ratings.
Pakistan play Sri Lanka in a two Test series starting at Faisalabad tomorrow and must win both matches to improve their rating from 105 to 110 and overtake England by one point. While the Australians are the clear leaders in the official standings, there are five sides fighting for second spot.
England, with their handsome 4-0 win over the West Indies in the summer, climbed to second in August but may relinquish that position to either Pakistan or India (who can climb to 111 with a 2-1 win over Australia) before they take on South Africa in five Test matches from December.  With a positive outcome in their favour, either England or South Africa could then end their head-to-head series in second place. Sri Lanka will fall just short of second if they win this series against Pakistan. A 2-0 win will put Sri Lanka third on 108 points while a 1-0 win will boost its rating to 106.

STANDINGS: 1 Australia 129 points; 2 England 109; 3 Pakistan 105; 4 India 104; 5 Sri Lanka 103; 6 South Africa 102; 7 New Zealand 94; 8 West Indies 73; 9 Zimbabwe 51; 10 Bangladesh 1.