KEY POINTS:
For a team whose success has traditionally been based on the sum of its parts rather than snazzy individual componentry, New Zealand has a double whammy to savour.
In the latest International Cricket Council ODI rankings, captain Daniel Vettori is No 1 on the bowling chart, and Jacob Oram sits at the top of the allrounders list.
They are chuffed, as they should be. New Zealand players rarely attain such lofty individual status. In recent years, only the now-departed Shane Bond has been up there, having been No 1 for a time, and even now he sits at No 2, even though his international days are over.
How much significance should be attached to these lists is a matter of opinion. Bond's final ODI was last April; England's Andrew Flintoff sits third on the allrounder list, even though he's been missing from their past eight ODIs, both showing the value of getting a pile of points in the bank for a rainy day.
But New Zealand's two senior players have been strong performers for some time and deserve a quiet bask in the glow of personal achievement.
"With the calibre of cricketers normally at the top of the world rankings, it's a pretty special feeling," Vettori said yesterday.
"To see two of us in the three categories possible is something that should be celebrated."
Vettori finished the 2007 calendar year as the game's top wicket-taker in ODIs as well. He's taken four cheaply in the three games so far against England and his display at Eden Park on Friday night - two for 22 from 10 overs - was a masterclass in control against two in-form batsmen, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen, who were both bristling to get at him.
Oram's body, which has let him down in the past, is in good shape and it's showing in his performances.
"I must admit I don't regularly check them [statistics] and I'm not motivated by them but to be ranked No 1 over a lot of other quality players is very satisfying," Oram said.
He admits his confidence is high, which has been a significant help.
"The bowling is going well. I'm enjoying hitting the crease as hard as I have done in three or four seasons. I think it's a sign of me maturing as a player and my mental game coming together, on top of my technique where I've ironed out a few problems as well."
Just being fit gives Oram a buzz - "I'm really taking pleasure out of being on the park.
"It may sound strange but after the number of injuries I've had, it just feels good knowing that every game you're turning up to play."
He still regards bowling as his second string. Oram began life as a batsman and that's where he still derives most satisfaction.
He has talked about having to stop bowling at some point. New Zealand will be hoping not for a while yet.
Australian Ricky Ponting remains the world's top ODI batsman.
* ODI WORLD RANKINGS
BATTING
1 Ricky Ponting (Aust)
2 Adam Gilchrist (Aust)
3 Graeme Smith (S. Africa)
4 M. Yousuf (Pakistan)
5 Andrew Symonds (Aust)
BOWLING
1 Daniel Vettori (NZ)
2 Shane Bond (NZ)
3 Nathan Bracken (Aust)
4 Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka)
5 Brett Lee (Aust)
Also: Kyle Mills (NZ) 8
Jacob Oram (NZ) 11
ALLROUNDERS
1 Oram
2 Shoaib Malik (Pakistan)
3 Andrew Flintoff (England)
4 Jacques Kallis (S. Africa)
5 S. Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)
Also: Scott Styris (NZ) 8, Vettori 10
