New Zealand are now the number one ranked team alongside Australia. This is the first time in the history if New Zealand cricket that they have reached the pinnacle of the ICC rankings. Team in ICC Test Rankings for the first time. The team, who made their Test debut in 1930, are set to sit at the top of the new Test rankings after beating West Indies 2-0 in the home Test series on Monday. The Tom Latham-led side dealt an innings and 12 runs loss to the West Indies at Basin Reserve to achieve the mark. The team is now tied on 116 points with neighbours Australia at the top.The win also allowed the Black Caps maximum points in the ICC Test Championships, allowing them to gallop England for third spot in the inaugural competition.
New Zealand have now taken 30 points in the championship and a points percentage of 62.5% with the win in the second Test. “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 byproduct of the work that the boys have done over the last few years,” said Latham at the post-match presentation ceremony. After a nearly 20-minute delayed start, the West Indies resumed their second innings on 244 for 6 with captain Jason Holder on 60 and debutant Joshua Da Silva on 25, however, were dismissed for 317 midway through the first session. Tom Latham, who stood in for Kane Williamson for the Wellington Test, was delighted to eke out maximum points from the Test series.
“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.” He said.The Kiwis, on the other hand, would now 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. 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.