New Zealand pacer on verge of dethroning Jasprit Bumrah in ICC Test rankings

New Zealand’s Matt Henry has surged past names like Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, Marco Jansen and Mitchell Starc to become the joint top-ranked bowler alongside India’s Jasprit Bumrah in the latest ICC Men’s Test bowling rankings.

Henry was at his vintage best at the Oval, making the ball nip around and helping New Zealand crush England by a colossal 253-run win in the second Test of the three-match series. The victory was particularly memorable as it marked New Zealand’s first triumph at the venue in 27 years.

The pacer claimed a brilliant five-for (5/80) in the first innings to bowl England out for 291, giving the visitors a crucial 100-run lead. He was even more devastating in the second innings, returning figures of 6/29 to seal the match. Henry finished with match figures of 11/109, a performance that has propelled him to new heights in the rankings.

Test win. Series level. 11 wickets. What an effort, Matt Henry 🏆 pic.twitter.com/UWmq0HcSyo

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 21, 2026

His efforts have seen him jump six places to join Bumrah at the top, both now holding a career-best rating of 870. Henry has become just the third Kiwi to become world No. 1 in the ICC men's Test bowling rankings after Jack Cowie (1947) and Richard Hadlee (1984-1990). Henry's rise effectively ends a 36-year drought for the Blackcaps.

With the third Test between England and New Zealand set to begin on June 25 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, Henry has a golden opportunity to dethrone Bumrah and become the undisputed No. 1 bowler in the ICC Men’s Test bowling rankings.

Meanwhile, Joe Root has displaced compatriot Harry Brook from the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men's Test batting rankings. Root scored 46 and 77 in the two innings of the Oval Test to climb two places to reclaim the No. 1 spot. 

ICC Men's Test bowling rankings