The rise and rise of the Black Caps
The Black Caps were at their lowest ebb in January 2013. Eight years later, they’re on top of the world. Andrew Voerman explains how they got there.
The nadir for the Black Caps in test cricket came in South Africa in January 2013. They were bowled out for 45 in the first test in Cape Town, lost that match and the next one by an innings, and were stuck down at No 8 on the International Cricket Council’s world rankings, only ahead of Bangladesh (and Zimbabwe, who were inactive).
But after that initial baptism of fire for Brendon McCullum as captain, changes were made, and they began to turn things around.
When they beat India 1-0 at home in February 2014, the series in which McCullum made 224 and 302 in back-to-back tests, they moved to No 7.
When they beat Sri Lanka 2-0 at home in January 2015, when Kane Williamson made his first double century, they moved to No 5.
But at the end of that year, they went to Australia and lost 2-0; then in 2016, they hosted Australia and lost 2-0, went to South Africa and lost 1-0, and went to India and lost 3-0, sliding back down to No 7.
Williamson had replaced McCullum as captain by that stage and more changes were made as Pakistan arrived in New Zealand in November that year.
The core of the team that would take the Black Caps to previously unscaled heights was now together and over the next five years, they would play 31 tests, winning 20, drawing five, and losing just six.
A total of 25 players made at least one appearance in that time, from ever-present Tom Latham to Lockie Ferguson and Glenn Phillips, who each played a single test. On a series-by-series basis, this is how they made their way to No 1.
Home v Pakistan; November 2016
Colin de Grandhomme takes 6-41 on debut. The Black Caps win the first test by eight wickets. Tim Southee takes 6-80. Ross Taylor scores 102 with one eye. The Black Caps win the second test against Pakistan by 138 runs and the series 2-0,
moving up to No 6. Home v Bangladesh; January 2017
Tom Latham scores 177. Kane Williamson scores 104. The Black Caps win the first test by seven wickets. Tim Southee takes 5-94. The Black Caps win the second test by nine wickets and the series 2-0,
moving up to No 5.
Home v South Africa; March 2017
Kane Williamson scores 130. The first test is drawn. Henry Nicholls scores 118. South Africa win the second test by eight wickets. Kane Williamson scores 176 but rain washes out the final day of the third test with South Africa 80-5 in their second innings, trailing by 95. The match is drawn and the Black Caps lose the series 1-0,
back to No 6.
Home v West Indies; December 2017
Neil Wagner takes 7-39. Colin de Grandhomme scores 105. Tom Blundell scores 107 on debut. The Black Caps win the first test by an innings and 67 runs.Ross Taylor scores 107. The Black Caps win the second test by 240 runs and the series 2-0,
moving up to No 4. Home v England; March 2018
Trent Boult takes 6-32. England are bowled out for 58. Kane Williamson scores 102. Henry Nicholls scores 145. The Black Caps win the first test by an innings and 49 runs. Tim Southee takes 6-62. Ish Sodhi and Neil Wagner bat for 31.2 overs to ensure the second test is drawn and the Black Caps win the series 1-0,
moving up to No 3. slipping v Pakistan in the UAE; November 2018
Ajaz Patel takes 5-59 on debut as the Black Caps win the first test by four runs. But they lose the second test by an innings and 16 runs. Kane Williamson scores 139, Henry Nicholls 126 and the Black Caps win the third test by 123 runs and win the series 2-1,
No 4.
Home v Sri Lanka; December 2018
Tim Southee takes 6-68. Tom Latham scores 264. The first test is drawn. Trent Boult takes 6-30, Tom Latham scores 176, Henry Nicholls scores 162 and the Black Caps win the second test by 423 runs and the series 1-0,
again. moving up to No 3
Home v Bangladesh; February 2019
Neil Wagner takes 5-47, Jeet Raval scores 132, Tom Latham scores 161, Kane Williamson scores 200, Trent Boult takes 5-123. The Black Caps win the first test by an innings and 53 runs. Ross Taylor scores 200, Henry Nicholls scores 107, Neil Wagner takes 5-45. The Black Caps win the second test by an innings and 12 runs. The third test is cancelled following the Christchurch mosque shootings.
The Black Caps move up to No 2 in he rankings.
Away v Sri Lanka; August 2019
Ajaz Patel takes 5-89 but Sri Lanka wins the first test by six wickets. Tom Latham scores 154, BJ Watling scores 105 as the Black Caps win the second test by an innings and 65 runs and the series is drawn 1-1,
they stay No 2. yet they slip to
Home v England; November 2019
BJ Watling scores 205, Mitchell Santner makes 126, Neil Wagner takes 5-44. The Black Caps win the first test by an innings and 65 runs. Tom Latham scores 105 while Neil Wagner takes 5-124. Kane Williamson then scores 104, Ross Taylor scores 105. The second test is drawn and the Black Caps win the series 1-0,
staying No 2. Away v Australia; December 2019
Tim Southee takes 5-69. Australia win the first test by 296 runs. Tom Blundell scores 127. Australia win the second test by 247 runs. Australia win the third test by 279 runs and the series 3-0.
The Black Caps slip back to No 3.
Home v India; February 2020
Tim Southee takes 5-61 and the Black Caps win the first test by 10 wickets. Kyle Jamieson takes 5-45 as the Black Caps win the second test by seven wickets and the series 2-0,
moving back up to No 2. Home v West Indies; December 2020
Kane Williamson scores 251 and the Black Caps win the first test by an innings and 134 runs. Henry Nicholls scores 174, Tim Southee takes 5-32, Kyle Jamieson 5-34 as the Black Caps win the second test by an innings and 12 runs and the series 2-0,
staying at No 2. so Home v Pakistan; December 2020
Williamson scores 129, Southee takes his 300th test wicket, Wagner takes 2-50 and 2-55, bowling with two fractured toes. The Black Caps win the first test by 101 runs with less than five overs to spare. Jamieson takes 5-69, Williamson hits 248, Nicholls scores 157 on one leg and Daryl Mitchell makes 102. Jamieson takes 6-48 and 11-117 for the match as the Black Caps win the second test by an innings and 176 runs and the series 2-0,
moving up to No 1 for the first time.