Cricket: NZ v Sri Lanka - player stats

The five-match one-day series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka promises to be a titanic battle. Dylan Cleaver, using the PwC ratings, compares three critical duels: opening partnerships, wicketkeeper-batsmen and strike bowlers.

Stephen Fleming

Current ODI ranking: 14th
Rating: 683 points
Highest rating: 725 vs West Indies, Lord's 2004
Career average: 32.15

Fleming's one-day graph is indicative of the new heights he has taken his game to in recent years. He got himself into the high 600s relatively early in his international career, which then stagnated at the turn of the century. But the last home season saw Fleming emerge as our finest one-day batsman. When Fleming scores runs the Black Caps rarely lose. 

Nathan Astle

Current ODI ranking: 32nd
Rating: 568 points
Highest rating: 763 vs Australia, Napier 2000
Career average: 35.02

Statistically, Astle is New Zealand's most successful one-day player, with 14 centuries to his name. However, his career has shown signs of dipping about the same time Fleming's has begun to take off. The Cantabrian has played some of New Zealand's most memorable one-day innings and could do with another one soon.

Marvan Atapattu

Current ODI ranking: 12th
Rating: 691 points
Highest rating: 750 vs Zimbabwe, East London 2003
Career average: 37.98

The Sri Lankan captain doesn't fit the mould of your typical one-day opener. He is certainly no Adam Gilchrist, but what he does is provide a solid foundation at one end while his partner goes ape at the other. It is a very successful combination and one New Zealand will do very well to break open early. Will not sacrifice his technique to chase runs. 

Sanath Jayasuriya

Current ODI ranking: 16th
Rating: 664 POINTS
Highest rating: 845 vs Pakistan, Lahore 1997
Career average: 31.89

Jayasuriya is one of only five active players to climb above the 840-point mark in their one-day career, which is a good indication of his place in the history of the shortened game. He is probably past his peak now, but he showed against New Zealand at the last World Cup that he can still tickle up any opposition.

Kumar Sangakkara

Current ODI ranking:7th
Rating: 733
Highest rating: 733 vs Pakistan, Lahore 2004
Career average: 33.82

Gives Sri Lanka a massive advantage when he takes the gloves, because it means they don't have to waste another spot in the order with a specialist keeper. Sangakkara's graph shows pretty accurately how his game has taken a massive leap forward in 2004. He says it is because he has worked out exactly what areas he is comfortable scoring in now. 

Brendon McCullum

Current ranking: 69th
Rating: 433 points
Highest rating: 439 vs Australia, The Oval 2004
Career Average: 20.57

McCullum's graph looks a little anaemic compared to the rest, but it shouldn't be long before there's a few 'Himalayan' peaks in it rather than the 'foothills' he's now travelling. His winning knock at Melbourne recently is a more accurate reflection of his capabilities, though he's never going to match his opposite while so far down the order. 

Chaminda Vaas

Current odi ranking:1st
Rating: 855 points
Highest rating: 899 vs Zimbabwe, Harare 2004
Career average: 26.10

It has long been known that Vaas is one of the world's class acts with the new ball but it has probably come as a shock to all but the most ardent of cricket anoraks that he is the No 1 bowler in the world. He should like it here too, with a bit of moisture in the air and a tinge of green in the wicket. 

Daniel Vettori

Current ODI ranking:10th
Rating: 713 points
Highest rating: 713 vs Australia, Sydney 2004
Career average: 34.19

Jacob Oram, at No 6 in the world rankings, is actually New Zealand's highest rated one-day bowler, but few outside of Palmerston North would argue that Vettori is the Black Caps' most valuable commodity with ball in hand. His graph illustrates that he has successfully climbed out of the trough he found himself in last season.