Williamson ‘humbled’ by top spot in rankings
Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson has risen to the top of the ICC test batting rankings, overtaking Steve Smith and Virat Kohli.
Williamson scored a century in the first innings of the Black Caps’ last test of the year, against Pakistan at Mt Maunganui, and has vaulted ahead of Smith and Kohli in the latest rankings.
Williamson, who yesterday received his cap honouring his selection in the ICC team of the decade, last topped the rankings in 2015.
He said to take the lead from Smith, long recognised as Australia’s best batsman, and Kohli, India’s captain and best batsman, was ‘‘humbling’’.
‘‘They are incredible players of our generation,’’ he said.
‘‘Those two players are the best so for me to sneak up perhaps in some way is very surprising and humbling but at the same time I think there’s other rankings somewhere that quite clearly state the successes of these other two. Year in and year out those two players, in all formats, are moving the game forward.’’
Before the Mt Maunganui test and the India-Australia clash in Melbourne, Smith led the rankings with 901 points from Kohli (888) and Williamson (877), but the Black Caps captain usurped them with his efforts against Pakistan, with Smith not doing well in Melbourne and Kohli having returned home for the birth of his first child.
Williamson also said it felt surreal to be named in the team of the decade.
‘‘However, I believe that it’s a bit of a team reward to be honest. It wouldn’t mean much without the contributions and the efforts from all the other players that you play alongside over such a long period of time that give you the motivation and drive to want to try and move the teams forward that you’re involved in.’’
‘‘Those two players are the best so for me to sneak up perhaps in some way is very surprising.’’
Kane Williamson on surpassing Steve Smith and Virat Kohli in the test batting rankings