DUBAI (Kashmir English): New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry has made history after becoming the top-ranked Test bowler, ending a 36-year wait for a New Zealand pacer to reach the summit of the ICC Test bowling rankings.
Henry became only the third New Zealand bowler to achieve the feat after a match-winning performance against England in the second Test at The Oval.
The right-arm pacer claimed a remarkable 11 wickets in the match, taking five wickets in the first innings and six in the second, helping New Zealand secure a comprehensive 253-run victory and level the series.
According to the new ICC rankings, England batter Joe Root has risen to the top of the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings after the second Test match against New Zealand.
Other batters to gain in the latest rankings update include New Zealand’s centurions Glenn Phillips and Henry Nicholls, as well as Rachin Ravindra.
“Phillips has advanced eight spots to 31st position and Nicholls 13 places to reach 40th position, even as Ravindra has moved back into the top 10,” the press release said.
Matt Henry overthrew India’s Jasprit Bumrah in the Men’s Test Bowling rankings. Bumrah had occupied the top position on his own since overtaking Kagiso Rabada in November 2024.
England’s Jofra Archer went up six places to 50th, and Jacob Bethell rose to 85th after The Oval Test.
ODI players ranking
In the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings, India captain Shubman Gill has progressed three spots to second position among batters after being named Player of the Series for an aggregate of 238 runs in the home series against Afghanistan that India won 3-0.
Left-handers Ishan Kishan (up 21 places to 43rd) and Yashaswi Jaiswal (up 84 places to 71st) have also progressed, while Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is up four places to 52nd.
In the Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings, India seam bowler M. Prasidh Krishna has moved from 92nd to joint-58th after his five-wicket haul in the final match, and Arshdeep Singh has gained 16 slots to reach 22nd position after finishing with five scalps in the series.
Afghanistan off-spinner AM Ghazanfar has advanced three places to 71st position.
