New Zealand captain Kane Williamson enters the New Year as the best test hitter after beating Australian Steve Smith and India skipper Virat Kohli in the latest official rankings released Thursday.
Williamson, who returned from paternity leave this month, scored a century of victories in the opening test against Pakistan to help New Zealand win by 101 races at Mount Maunganui on Wednesday.
Smith is in the midst of a rare drop in form and fell behind Kohli after posting four single-digit scores in the middle stage of the ongoing four-test series against India.
Kohli, who led India in their eight-field win over Australia in the series opener in Adelaide, has returned home for the birth of her first child.
India’s understudy skipper Ajinkya Rahane jumped to number six after his stellar hundred in the second round inspired tourists to a series leveling victory in Melbourne.
Australia’s Pat Cummins remains the best test bowler, while compatriot Mitchell Starc jumped two places to enter the top five.
Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (7th) and speedy Jasprit Bumrah (9th) improved their top 10 after their impressive performance at the Melbourne test.
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