New Zealand Leapfrog Australia To Claim The ICC No.1 Test Ranking For The First Time In History

The Kane Williamson-led New Zealand Cricket Team has scripted history as they have finally leapfrogged their Trans-Tasman neighbour Australia to claim the numero-uno spot in the ICC Test rankings for the first time in its history.

New Zealand achieved feat after they registered their 5th consecutive Test win this year- all at home- courtesy a dramatic 101-run victory over Pakistan in the first of the two Test matches at the Bay Oval in Mount Manganaui.

Afterb having reduced Pakistan to 4/75 on the fifth morning, the Kiwis would have expected a stroll in the park as they aimed another comprehensive win at home. However, for the first time in a long time, they made to work extremely hard to earn a win at home as Fawad Alam [102] and Mohammad Rizwan [60] put up a valiant fight durug their 165-run-stand for the 5th wicket.

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However, once Kyle Jamieson dismissed Rizwan, the Kiwi bowlers chiooed in with wickets regularly with Mitchell Santner nailing the final nail in the coffin with jjuat six overs in the game to go when he knocked over Naseem Shah.

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After having whitewashed West Indies in the two-match Test rubber earlier in the month, New Zealand had come within striking distance of upstaging Australia from the No.1 ranking but had agonizingly missed out due to a few decimal points.

New Zealand now have 117 rating points as opposed to Australia, who lost to India in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground by eight wickets.

New Zealand and Australia have interchanged places at the No.1 and 2 spot respectively while India remain at the third spot despite gaining one rating point following their brilliant series-levelling win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground- their second in as many Test matches.

However, New Zealand will have to ensure that they win the next Test and claim the series 2-0 if they are to continue their stay at the top of the table.

Here’s a look at the ICC Test ramings-