KEY POINTS:
The latest world one-day international cricket rankings give a stark reminder where New Zealand's strengths lie before the tri-series against Australia and England.
International Cricket Council rankings issued yesterday give New Zealand four bowlers in the world's top 20, but no batsmen.
Captain Stephen Fleming was the top-rater, just sliding into the top 25 on the batting list.
In the bowling, spinner Daniel Vettori leads the way at a career-high fifth place, up three spots from last month. Paceman Shane Bond is down three to 10th, Kyle Mills remains 11th and Jacob Oram drops two spots to 19th.
Mills and Oram will miss the early tri-series matches as they recover from injury, but coach John Bracewell is optimistic they and allrounder Scott Styris will return during the series.
"They're all making the right progress at the right times, so we've got to be patient.
"Adelaide [the match against England on January 23] is the first target, but not the only target," he said.
Australia's Mike Hussey and South Africa's Shaun Pollock remain at the top of the batting and bowling lists respectively.
- NZPA
