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South Africa arrived in the Shaky Isles firmly lodged in second place in the ratings on 1156 points.� Excluding the Australians, South Africa has been the form team of Test cricket for the last four years.� South Africa is in its second great era, which began upon their return to Test cricket when they were rated 1044 points in 1039 points in 1992.�
South Africa's first great era first started in the early 1960s and was prematurely truncated in 1970 by the beginning of the isolation period.� South African cricket has never been stronger than at present, with the team having set a national record rating of 1165 points in May 2003.
New Zealand is also in the midst of their second great era, which commenced in February 1997, when they began resuscitating their rating from 952 points towards its current level.� New Zealand began the series against South Africa on 1034 points, which is 13 points short of their national record.� That record (1047 points) was set in March 1990 during their first great era with a team that included Hadlee, Cairns Snr, a Snedden and a few Crowes.
The major difference between New Zealand and South Africa?s great second eras is around 100 ratings points.� Therefore, upon arriving in New Zealand, South Africa would not have expected to be troubled through the three Test series.� South Africa had visited six times beforehand and had never dropped a Test in New Zealand from the eleven played.
The first Test saw South Africa bat first and make an imposing 459 runs only to see New Zealand sail past them to post a 50 run first innings lead.� That Test ended in a draw as neither team was able to take wickets quickly enough to gain a winning position.� From that point, New Zealand gained confidence.
The second Test was won by New Zealand after the home team posted an even larger first innings lead of 199 runs and South Africa's second innings disintegrated.� That victory was New Zealand's first win over South Africa on home turf and their fourth Test victory over South Africa from 29 attempts.� New Zealand's previous victory was almost ten years ago in November 1994 at Johannesburg.
The final Test was the Kiwi's chance to post only their second series victory over South Africa.� The Test was a close encounter, where either team had chances of winning.� New Zealand could have won had they added a little more pressure on the tourists with a slightly larger second innings total or taken early wickets on the final day.� In the end, however, South Africa showed nerves of steal on the final morning and Kirsten, in his final Test for South Africa, steered his team to a series levelling victory.
The drawn series has seen South Africa remain fixed in second place in the ratings while their rating has fall back to 1148 points.� New Zealand has strengthened their sixth place in the ratings with 1041 points.� New Zealand is now just four points behind fifth placed India.
In trend terms, South Africa's rating has oscillated between 1133 points and 1165 points since the defeated West Indies in a whitewash in January 1999.� The trend in the South African rating over the last four years gives every indication of having flattened out, with continued future growth unlikely.
New Zealand's current rating on 1041 points is now equal to the highest point they have achieved in their 'second great era'.� The New Zealand ratings trend is still upwards and it would appear that it is only a matter of time before the current team eclipses the current national record of 1047 points.� It remains to be seen if New Zealand can also climb higher than their current sixth place in the ratings. points.
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1236); 2. South Africa (1148); 3. Pakistan (1087); 4. England (1067); 5. India (1046); 6. New Zealand (1041); 7. Sri Lanka (1022); 8. West Indies (1005); 9. Zimbabwe (891); 10. Bangladesh (793).
