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During yet another unmatched series, New Zealand twice steam rolled the hapless Bangladeshi team in less than three days of playing time. Both Tests were won by an innings after New Zealand declared their innings closed.
The pressure was on New Zealand after the first two days of the first Test were lost to rain. Clearly the home side did not wish to be the first nation to lose to Bangladesh. The result came on the fifth day.
In the second Test, the second and part of the third day was lost to heavy rain. This did not prevent New Zealand finishing the Test on the fourth day.
New Zealand has gained eight ratings points from this series. The win has lifted the Kiwis back into seventh position in the ratings on 1022 points. Their rise has pushed the West Indies into eight place for the first time in history.
New Zealand has now set their highest rating since August 1990. Their current rating is their eleventh highest ever and only 26 points short of their highest rating of 1047 points set in March 1990.
Bangladesh has now played nine Tests for eight losses and one draw. Their draw came against Zimbabwe when the last two days of the Test were washed out. Given that Bangladesh was 3 for 125 needing another 199 runs to avoid an innings defeat, Zimbabwe could consider itself unlucky to be the first nation to concede a draw to the Test newcomers.
Bangladesh again received every assistance from the weather in both Tests in this series. However, they still failed to hold out the Kiwis both times. As a result, Bangladesh's provisional rating stands at 838 points. This is 100 points lower than the next weakest team, Zimbabwe.
Compare the Bangladeshi record to their nearest rival for the wooden spoon. Zimbabwe was also the next most recent team admitted to Test cricket status by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Zimbabwe played their first Test in 1992 and after ten Tests had drawn six and lost four. Clearly, the ICC should be extremely concerned.
When Bangladesh plays their tenth Test they will gain a full rating. This will occur in their next series against Pakistan in January 2002. Unless Bangladesh draws or wins the first Test of that series then they will hold the unenviable record of owning the lowest rating in history.
The recent improvement in both New Zealand and Sri Lanka's rating would indicate that Test cricket fans might be in for a greater number of close contests. There are now six teams within 43 ratings points of each over starting with third placed Pakistan down to seventh placed New Zealand.
This sort of narrowing last occurred in the mid 1980s. As Australia is issuing a hiding to second placed South Africa, there might be increased hope of closer contests elsewhere to entice the crowds. Closer contests would be a treat compared to the blood baths observed in the Sri Lanka and Antipodes in December.
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1193); 2. South Africa (1156); 3. Pakistan (1061); 4. England (1049); 5. India (1028); 6. Sri Lanka (1023); 7. New Zealand (1022); 8. West Indies (1019); 9. Zimbabwe (937); 10. Bangladesh (838 provisional)
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