The BLACKCAPS can consolidate their place in the ICC Test Rankings with victory in the third National Bank Test at Napier.
A third consecutive win over the West Indies will offset any progress made by Sri Lanka in their home series against Pakistan.
Sri Lanka are currently seventh in the table with 97 points, but a clean sweep in their two matches, the first starting in Colombo today, would lift their rating to 102 points.
That haul would see them leapfrog the fifth-placed BLACKCAPS (100 points) and South Africa (6th, 99) if they win both Tests - unless the BLACKCAPS claim victory at McLean Park.
The BLACKCAPS’ record run of Test victories has seen Daniel Vettori consistently maintain a top-five place in the all-rounder rankings, and a top-20 spot in the bowlers’ ladder.
The spinner is currently in 18th place, 11 adrift of the BLACKCAPS’ top-rated bowler, Shane Bond.
Stephen Fleming holds his position as the leading Kiwi batsman, the captain rating at 22nd.
LG ICC Test Championship
(ahead of BLACKCAPS v West Indies 3rd National Bank Test and Sri Lanka v Pakistan Test series)
1 Australia 129
2 England 113
3 India 111
4 Pakistan 108
5 New Zealand 100
6 South Africa 99
7 Sri Lanka 97
8 West Indies 73
9 Zimbabwe 27
10 Bangladesh 4
