2 Dec 2014

Black Caps improve rankings

7:46 am on 2 December 2014

The New Zealand cricketers Mark Craig, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson have continued to move up the ICC Test cricket player rankings following the side's innings and 80 runs victory over Pakistan in the third Test at Sharjah.

The New Zealand cricketers celebrate third test win over Pakistan in Sharjah in 2014.

The New Zealand cricketers celebrate third test win over Pakistan in Sharjah in 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Black Caps' captain Brendon McCullum has vaulted five places to 14th position in the latest rankings for Test batsmen, following his double century in New Zealand's record innings tally of 690 against Pakistan.

Ross Taylor remains the highest-ranked New Zealand batsman, and he has moved up one place to ninth after scoring 50, while Kane Williamson's highest Test score of 192 has moved the 24-year-old up four places to a career-high 12th place. Mark Craig climbed 19 places to 77th after his score of 65.

Spin bowler Mark Craig takes 10 wickets in New Zealand's third cricket test win over Pakistan in Sharjah in 2014.

Spin bowler Mark Craig takes 10 wickets in New Zealand's third cricket test win over Pakistan in Sharjah in 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

In the test bowling rankings, New Zealand's Trent Boult has moved up one place to ninth position after taking four wickets for 92 runs in the match. Mark Craig's maiden 10-wicket haul in a Test (10 for 203) has vaulted the the off-spinner up 30 places to a career high 58th position, while Ish Sodhi has moved up three places to a career high 71st after match figures of three for 158.

The batting table continues to be headed by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, while Dale Steyn leads the bowlers' list. Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan is the number-one ranked all-rounder.

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