Matt Henry goes to world No 1, achieves second-highest rating points in New Zealand test bowling history

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

Black Cap Matt Henry has climbed to the top of the global test cricket bowling rankings after a dominant 11-wicket performance in the second test against England.

Henry caught up with India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah at the summit of the bowling rankings after his match haul of 11-109. The performance helped the visiting side win the match by 253 runs to level the test series 1-1.

The updated International Cricket Council rankings follow the second match of the World Test Championship series at The Oval.

Henry’s achievement places him in elite company in his country's cricket history.

His tally of 870 rating points is the second-highest achieved by a New Zealand bowler, trailing only Sir Richard Hadlee, who peaked with 909 points in 1985.

In the history of New Zealand test cricket, only Hadlee and batter Kane Williamson, who reached a peak of 919 points in 2021, have accumulated more than 870 rating points with either bat or ball.

Bumrah had occupied the top bowling position on his own since overtaking Kagiso Rabada in November 2024.

England batter Joe Root also returned to the top of the batting rankings, overtaking team-mate Harry Brook and Australia’s Travis Head to begin his 12th stint as the world's No 1.

Root recorded scores of 46 and 77 during the match. The Yorkshire pair of Root and Brook have now exchanged the top ranking position six times over the past 18 months.

Other New Zealand batters made significant gains in the latest rankings update.

Centurions Glenn Phillips and Henry Nicholls climbed the ladder, with Phillips advancing eight spots to 31st position and Nicholls rising 13 places to reach 40th position. Rachin Ravindra also moved back into the world's top 10 batters.