Cricket: Sri Lanka defeat pushes New Zealand up to third on ratings ladder

By RICHARD BOOCK and REUTERS

New Zealand have been catapulted into third place on the International Cricket Council's Test Championship Ladder (TCL) - despite being crushed by more than an innings in their last outing.

The unlikely ascent in the rankings came after Sri Lanka lost their series in England 2-nil, reducing their points average to 1.07 and dropping them to fourth on the ladder.

The news may come as a boost to the New Zealanders, who are preparing for the first test against the West Indies and need every possible assistance after losing the one-dayers 3-1.

The last time New Zealand played a test was at Lahore last month when they were destroyed by an innings and 324 runs - their biggest defeat, Pakistan's biggest win, and the fifth biggest margin in history.

A suicide bombing in Karachi ended the tour a week later.

The New Zealand test squad assembled this week in Barbados to begin preparations for the series opener starting on Saturday (New Zealand time).

A strong performance in the tests is sure to consolidate New Zealand's position on the test championship ladder, although history suggests that success will not come easily. The New Zealanders have not won a test in the West Indies in 11 attempts, drawing the five rubbers on the 1971-72 tour, losing twice and drawing twice in 1984-85 and losing once and drawing once in 1995-96.

While they will remain third on the TCL if they win or draw this month's series, a loss will see them tumble back down to fourth.

England, whose 10-wicket win at Old Trafford this week wrapped up their first series win since they beat the same opponent in Sri Lanka 15 months previous, remain in fifth place, only a fraction of a point behind the Sri Lankans.

Led by test superpowers Australia and South Africa, the table tracks results between respective opponents back to 1996, awarding points on the basis of series wins (two), draws (one) and losses (none), and then dividing the total by the number of series played.

Meanwhile, the West Indies are rushing back fast-bowler Darren Powell from the "A" team's tour of England after adding him to their squad for the first test against New Zealand.

Powell is expected to arrive in Bridgetown today and will act as cover should any of the injuries affecting the other bowlers prevent them from playing in the test.

Legspinner Mahendra Nagamootoo, out of international cricket for two months after a car accident, and fast bowler Mervyn Dillon, sidelined with a back injury during Monday's hair-raising one-day win over New Zealand at St Vincent, have been included in the squad.

Powell, 24, has never played test or one-day international cricket but gained recognition from Sir Vivian Richards' selection panel after taking 25 wickets at an average of 20.20 for champions Jamaica in this year's domestic Busta Cup.

West Indies squad: Carl Hooper (captain), Brian Lara (vice-captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Cameron Cuffy, Mervyn Dillon, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Darren Powell, Adam Sanford, Ramnaresh Sarwan.