Burns with a bullet in latest rankings

Australia opener Joe Burns has moved up an incredible 26 spots to a career-high 32nd position in the latest International Cricket Council Test batting rankings.

The Queenslander has been rewarded for his man-of-the-match performance in Australia's series-clinching win over New Zealand in Christchurch last week, where he posted a career-best 170 in the first innings and 65 in the second.

Teammate Adam Voges has also secured a career-high ranking, moving up two places to seventh, while captain Steve Smith stretched his lead at the top following his brilliant 138 in the first innings and 53 not out in the second.

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Smith gained 24 points and now sits 36 points clear on the top of the rankings, ahead of England's Joe Root and NZ's Kane Williamson.

While Burns, Voges and Smith all made gains, opener David Warner dropped four places to ninth after he was unable to post a half-century in three innings against the Black Caps.

Quick James Pattinson also broke into the top 20 bowlers for the first time in his career, moving to 19th after taking six wickets in his return to the Test side.

Teammate Josh Hazlewood slipped one spot to eighth, despite impressing at Hagley Oval, with Black Caps quick Trent Boult jumping ahead of him to seventh.

There are now five Australians in the top 20 bowlers; Hazlewood (8th), Nathan Lyon (13th), Mitchell Starc (14th), Peter Siddle (15th) and Pattinson (19th). 

Meanwhile, retired NZ skipper Brendon McCullum finished his career as the world's 19th ranked batsman, gaining two spots after his record-breaking century in the first innings. McCullum finishes with 680 points, 80 short of his all-time high of 12th spot in December 2014.

NZ wicketkeeper BJ Watling moved up four places to 31st, while Kiwi quick Neil Wagner jumped four places to 18th following his career-best performance in Christchurch.

ICC batting rankings

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ICC bowling rankings

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