New Zealand close in on ICC number-one Test ranking; Australia remain at the top

After their resounding 2-0 win over West Indies, New Zealand are breathing down the neck of Australia- the ICC’s number-one ranked Test team. The Aussies are at the top with rating points of 116.461, compared to the Black Caps’ 116.375. Australia have a chance of strengthening their top-spot as they are scheduled to play a four-match Test series against India, starting December 17.

The Kiwis, on the other hand, would be playing two Tests against Pakistan from December 26 onwards. New Zealand have never been the number-one Test team and they would be making history if they manage to topple the mighty Aussies.

In the World Test Championship, the Black Caps are sitting at the fourth spot with 300 points. Tom Latham, who stood in for Kane Williamson for the Wellington Test, was delighted to eke out maximum points from the Test series.

It's neck and neck at the top of the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Team Rankings. Australia are still No.1 with 116.461 rating points 📈

New Zealand are just behind with 116.375 👀

Full rankings: https://t.co/79zdXNIBv3 pic.twitter.com/mceTjXfHEu

— ICC (@ICC) December 14, 2020

Tom Latham delighted with New Zealand’s performance

“Looking at the World Test Championship, it’s nice to get full points from this Test series. We wanted to take one game at a time and it’s worked for us. It’s nice (for NZ to be no.1 in the Test rankings) but that’s just a by-product of the work that the boys have done over the last few years.

“There’s another series coming up, so the focus needs to turn to that, ” Latham said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“Many guys put their hands up in this series across both Tests. The effort of the bowlers has been great, to bowl WI out successively in both games. They never complained, and just did their job. ”

“The pitches here in NZ have been quite green and we’ve learnt to play in these conditions. When you go around the world, you need to adapt to different conditions. I’m sure he (Williamson) would have been watching the game,” he added.

In the Hamilton Test, the hosts came out trumps by an innings and 134 runs on the back of Williamson’s double century. The skipper thereafter took paternity leave to be with his wife, who’s due to give birth later in December. Despite his absence, the Kiwis won the second Test by an innings and 12 runs.

Here are ICC Test team rankings