Matt Henry has officially joined Jasprit Bumrah at the top of the ICC men’s Test bowling rankings. In the latest ranking update released on June 24, 2026, both fast bowlers are tied at the top with 870 rating points each, making them joint no. 1 Test the bowlers.
Henry ends a 36-year wait for New Zealand pacers
Henry’s rise to the top marks a historic achievement for New Zealand cricket. He becomes the first Kiwi fast bowler to reach the top spot in the ICC Test rankings since legendary pacer Sir Richard Hadlee, ending a 36-year wait for the New Zealand seamer. Only two other NZ bowlers have previously topped the rankings – Jack Cowie (1947) and Richard Hadlee (1984-1990).Bumrah, meanwhile, had enjoyed an unbroken reign at the top since November 2024 before Henry’s latest surge brought him level.
How the two pace giants compare
As of June 2026, two of the world’s top-ranked Test bowlers boast outstanding career records:
| bowler | Test wickets | The best figures for bowling | Bowling averages | Economic rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 152 | 7/23 | 26.05 | 3.11 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 234 | 6/27 | 19.79 | 2.77 |
Henry’s rise to the top was fueled by a sensational performance in New Zealand’s second Test win over England at The Oval. The right-arm seamer took figures of 11/109, taking 5/80 in the first innings and 6/29 in the second as New Zealand secured a convincing 253-run victory to level the three-match series. Henry and Bumrah have been operating in a league of their own in recent years. As of the start of 2022, they are the only two fast bowlers in world cricket to have taken more than 100 Test wickets while maintaining a bowling average below 20.
Trent Bridge awaits Matt Henry
Matt Henry stands on the brink of history as he leads the New Zealand attack in the 3rd and deciding Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, starting tomorrow, June 25, 2026. Fresh from returning to the joint world No. 1 rankings, Henry faces a venue known as a fast bowling haven. If Henry emulates his 11-ball feats from The Oval, he could become the sole holder of the ICC’s No.1 Test bowling spot, breaking his current tie with Jasprit Bumrah.
