New Zealand grabbed the number one position in the ICC Test rankings for the first time in history after decimating Pakistan by an innings and 176 runs in the second Test in Christchurch, on Wednesday.
The comfortable series-clinching victory, shaped by captain Kane Williamson's double century, pushed the Kiwis to top of the heap as they became the sixth country in the past 10 years to be ranked number one in Test cricket.
"A huge victory in the second Test has propelled New Zealand to the No.1 spot in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Team Rankings," the ICC tweeted.
NEW ZEALAND ARE NO.
— ICC (@ICC) January 6, 2021
Victory over Pakistan has sent Kane Williamson's side to the of the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Team Rankings!
They have achieved the feat for the first time in rankings history pic.twitter.com/8lKm6HebtO
Overall, New Zealand is the seventh side in the world to hold the number one spot. It came close to reaching the summit in the last couple of years but stayed second on the table.
Check ICC Test championship latest news and points table here
Kiwis now have 118 points, two more than Australia and four clear of third-placed India.
England (106) and South Africa (96) complete the top-five.
Williamson consolidated his top spot in the batting list. He had recently leapfrogged India captain Virat Kohli and Australian star Steve Smith with three centuries, including two double centuries, in his last six innings.
The Black Caps are also inching closer to the top two spots in the ICC World Test Championship standings.
They are still third with 70 (PCT) percentage points but are narrowing the gap with Australia (76.7) and India (72.2).
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