Cricket: Black Caps poised to climb world rankings

New Zealand are poised to make a significant jump in cricket's world rankings. Photo / Getty Images.

New Zealand are poised to make a significant jump in cricket's world rankings.

And it's proof of how far New Zealand have come in the last year.

A series win over Sri Lanka, coupled with Australia having toppled India across the Tasman, is expected to have the combined effect of New Zealand jumping to No 5 in the test rankings, with Sri Lanka staying at No 6 and India, the financial power of the game, dropping to No 7.

It was not so long ago that New Zealand were languishing at No 8, below the West Indies, and ahead of just Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

However six straight series either won or drawn, home and away, has seen New Zealand put on their climbing boots.

If the rankings pan out as expected, New Zealand can then look up and see Pakistan and England hovering just above them in fourth and third respectively.

South Africa and Australia remain well clear at the top.

However New Zealand's next test assignment is away to England next May.

Not that they'll need it, but if New Zealand are looking for an incentive over and above the obvious plum of a third series win in England, the test rankings should offer it.

As for India, who wield the mightiest sword around the International Cricket Council table, the ignominious slump is sure to draw quiet smiles from those who have found themselves having to jump to India's tune in recent years.

How They Stand Today

South Africa 27 tests, 3353 points, 124 ranking points

Australia 35 4088 117

England 39 4063 104

Pakistan 30 3090 103

Sri Lanka 31 3126 101

India 29 2793 96

New Zealand 34 3207 94

West Indies 26 1967 75

Bangladesh 21 676 32

Zimbabwe 13 228 18