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Pakistan won the first Test in Auckland by 299 runs. However, the Pakistani bowlers lost momentum and failed to break through the Kiwi batting in the second Test that ended in a staid draw. By the third Test, the wheels also fell off the Pakistan Batting and they lost by an innings and 185 runs.
While Pakistan retains fourth place in the ratings, their rating has fallen to 1048 points. They are now 11 points behind England and 19 points ahead of fifth placed India.
For most of the last two decades Pakistan has consistently been ranked as the second or third best Test nation. However, from early 1998 onwards Pakistan's rating has been in decline. Over this period they have lost a total of 59 ratings points.
It is a commonly held view that Pakistan has some of the most talented individuals in world cricket. It is also commonly held that they randomly run hot and cold. This is the story of this Test series.
Why, within the same series of almost back to back Tests they can be so consistently inconsistent is one of cricket's great mysteries. It is certainly not as simple as suggesting that Inzamam-ul-Haq's stand in captaincy in the third Test is to blame.
In this series it could partly be attributed to a large injury toll to the bowling line up. However, the attack retained enough experienced players to have achieved a better result than a draw in this series.
Pakistan recently lost a home series to the resurgent England and this makes the second Test series in a row they have failed to win. There is likely to be considerable pressure to change the captaincy before Pakistan's next Test series in England that starts in mid May.
New Zealand showed great character to recover from a loss in the first Test and to then come back and level the series. Their batsmen showed in the second and third Tests that they could cope against the Pakistan bowling attack. New Zealand's pace bowlers backed this up in the final Test by achieving a remarkable feat in bowling out Pakistan for 104 and 118 runs.
The second innings demolition occurred on a wicket where the New Zealand batsmen had spent the morning session scoring at over six runs per over.
New Zealand retains seventh position in the ratings. They have increased their rating to its highest point since late 2000. In addition, they have consolidated their lead over Sri Lanka to 19 points. However, they ate still 33 points behind the sixth placed West Indians.
New Zealand is again well placed to break through the 1000-point barrier for the first time since early 1992. This is the third time in the last year New Zealand has been in such a position. On past occasions they came up against Australia or South Africa and their rating fell back. On this occasion they have a far easier opponent in their next Test series as they are due to tour Sri Lanka in June.
The latest Test Cricket Ratings are: 1 Australia (1185); 2 South Africa (1150); 3 England (1059); 4 Pakistan (1048); 5 India (1030); 6 West Indies (1025); 7 New Zealand (992); 8 Sri Lanka (973); 9 Zimbabwe (911); 10 Bangladesh (876p - provisional).
