New Zealand’s Matt Henry rises to No 1 in the world test bowling rankings, overtaking Jasprit Bumrah

Thursday, 25 June 2026

Just two New Zealand cricketers had scaled the peak of the world test bowling rankings in the near century since the country played its first test.

Now Black Caps pace spearhead Matt Henry joins Sir Richard Hadlee and Jack Cowie, who both held the lofty ranking of world’s top test bowler.

On the eve of the third test against England at Trent Bridge, fresh from his 11-wicket haul in New Zealand’s second test win at The Oval, Henry moved past India’s Jasprit Bumrah to No 1 on the official ICC list.

Henry and Bumrah are level on 870 ranking points, with Henry’s tally the second highest by a New Zealand bowler after Hadlee, who peaked with 909 points in 1985.

Hadee was No 1 between 1984 and 1990, when he retired from cricket, while Cowie was top-ranked in 1947.

Australians Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, and South Africa’s Marco Jansen round out the top-five.

Henry’s match haul of 11-109 in the Black Caps’ 253-run win over England to level the series 1-1, was the best of his 35-test career. It was also the best test match figures by a New Zealand bowler against England.

The 34-year-old goes into the deciding test with career figures of 152 wickets at an average of 26.

In his last 10 tests, Henry’s numbers are a remarkable 57 wickets at 15.43.

According to New Zealand Cricket statistician Francis Payne, Henry has 90 wickets at 19.37 in Black Caps test wins. The only bowler with as many wickets and a better average in New Zealand victories is Hadlee, with 173 wickets at 13.

In the test batting rankings, England’s Joe Root returns to the top, ahead of team-mate Harry Brook and Australian pair Travis Head and Steve Smith.

Rachin Ravindra is the highest-ranked New Zealander at No 10 while Daryl Mitchell - who remains atop the world ODI batting rankings - is at No 16 on the test list.

The third test is scheduled to start at 10pm on Thursday (NZT).