Vettori a major mover in ICC rankings

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori now has a reasonable claim to the title of best No 8 batsman in the history of Test cricket as the 29-year-old continues to excel with both bat and ball.

Vettori, who has two Test centuries to his name and averages a respectable 27.12, has moved up four places to a career-high 26th position in the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen on 608 ratings points, the best rating by a regular No 8 batsman in the history of the game.

The Black Caps' skipper scored 88 and 35 in the first Test against England, which concluded last Sunday, helping his side to a comprehensive 189-run win at Hamilton. Apart from his batting heroics, Vettori also bowled a marathon 70 overs in the match, conceding just 104 runs and taking 3 big wickets (Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood).

In the process, Vettori has risen two places in the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers and is back into the top 20 at 19th place. And to cap off a truly all-round effort, he has risen one place in the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders and is now in second place behind South Africa's Jacques Kallis having leapfrogged Andrew Flintoff of England.

Kyle Mills is the other main mover after the Hamilton Test as he has gained 15 places to 33rd spot. On current form, both Mills and Sidebottom are likely to break into the top 30 at some stage during this three-match series.

Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan is still out in front at the top of the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers.