From 1877 until World War One
Between the World Wars
Post War to the WSC Revolution
The Professional Era to the New Millennium
The New Millennium and Beyond
Other Pages
Home Page
Article Archive
How the System Works
Frequently Asked Questions
Statistical Points of Interest
Current and Future Series Predictions
Links
Site Map
Information for Visiting Webmasters
Contact Us
Get Free e-mail ratings updates
Despite having to bat last in all three Tests, England was able to secure victory in each Test after New Zealand's second innings consistently went to pieces at critical moments.� New Zealand had opportunities in each Test to bat England out of the match.� However, inconsistent performances by the Kiwi middle order let them down each time.�
The end result saw England winning by seven wickets at Lord's, nine wickets at Headingley and four wickets at Trent Bridge.� The series is England's first series white wash in a series of three or more Tests against any nation since the New Zealand tour of 1978.� England has also defeated Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in series whitewashes in the last year in shorter, two-Test, series.
England's rating has now risen to 1104 points, which is their highest rating since January 1984.� England's rating has been steadily rising for most of the last four years.� Since September 2000, England and Pakistan have frequently swapped places between third and fourth position in an ongoing battle to hold third place.�
England has now created a comfortable lead over Pakistan of 27 rating points.� That is the largest lead between the two nations for two and a half years and should be enough to see England hold onto third place for the foreseeable future.
England's record over the last four years has confirmed that they have finally recovered from their 15 year slump that started in the mid 1980s.� The issue that is yet to be answered is if England can continue to climb another 50 ratings points to begin to challenge second placed South Africa.�
The best indicator of that prospect will be occur at the end of 2004 when England tours South Africa.� However, England must first host the West Indies for four Tests in July, a series that England should win comfortably.
By comparison, the series has been a disaster for New Zealand.� The Kiwi rating has slumped back to 1022 points and they have dropped back below Sri Lanka into seventh place.� New Zealand now holds its lowest rating since June 2002, having spent the intervening two years on a steady upward climb.
New Zealand's last tour of England resulted in an unexpected series win.� Both England and New Zealand had both raised their respective ratings by around 60 points during the five years between the two tours.� However, the evidence would suggest that England would appear to be in the midst of a substantial revival of fortunes that may take them further up the ratings chart.� New Zealand, by comparison, could well be moving toward the end of their second 'great era'.
New Zealand's first 'great era' occurred from 1983 to 1990 when they raised their rating from 959 points to a national record high of 1047 points.� The second 'great era' of New Zealand cricket, from 1998 until the present, saw their rating rise from 959 points to their most recent high of 1041 points.� However, having fallen back to 1022 points, it now seems unlikely New Zealand will set a new national record.
The end of the England series sees Chris Cairns retiring from Test cricket.� Cairns has had a career dogged by injury in recent years, however, when he has been fit he has often made valuable contributions with his lusty hitting amongst the tail.� That ability to smash a quick fifty will be as sorely missed as his ability to take wickets at crucial periods of a Test.
There are a number of other senior players who are approaching retirement, including the captain Fleming.� Fleming?s captaincy should not be undervalued.� He has consistently shown the capacity to get the team to perform well above the sum of its individual parts.
New Zealand next faces the daunting prospect of a two Test tour of their 'Western Islands' as they sometime refer to Australia.� Their last tour of Australia saw three weather assisted draws.� Australians might welcome a break in the worst drought in a century, but Ponting's men might have a different view.
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1236); 2. South Africa (1148); 3. England (1114); 4. Pakistan (1077); 5. India (1056); 6. Sri Lanka (1022); 7. New Zealand (1022); 8. West Indies (987); 9. Zimbabwe (881); 10. Bangladesh (793).
