Matt Henry has officially joined Jasprit Bumrah at the top of the ICC men’s Test bowling rankings. In the latest rankings released on June 24, 2026, both fast bowlers were tied for first place in the world with a rating of 870 points. 1 Test bowlers.
Henry ends 36-year wait for New Zealand pacer
Henry’s rise marked a historic achievement for New Zealand cricket. He became the first New Zealand fast bowler since legendary pacer Sir Richard Hadley to reach No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings, ending a 36-year wait for the New Zealand seamer. Prior to this, only two other New Zealand bowlers had topped the charts – Jack Cowie (1947) and Richard Hadlee (1984-1990).Bumrah, meanwhile, had enjoyed uninterrupted dominance since November 2024 until Henry’s latest surge leveled him.
How two pace giants compare
As of June 2026, the world’s two highest-ranked Test bowlers have outstanding career records:
| bowler | test wicket | best bowling figure | bowling average | Economy class price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 152 | 7/23 | 26.05 | 3.11 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 234 | 6/27 | 19.79 | 2.77 |
Henry’s stellar performance propelled New Zealand to the top as New Zealand beat England in the second Test at The Oval. The right-arm seamer took match figures of 11/109, taking 5/80 in the first innings and 6/29 in the second, as New Zealand leveled the three-match series with a commanding 253-run victory. Henry and Bumrah have been operating in their own leagues in recent years. They are the only two fast bowlers in world cricket to take more than 100 Test wickets while maintaining a bowling average below 20 since the start of 2022.
Trent Bridge awaits Matt Henry
Matt Henry stood on the precipice of history, guiding New Zealand into third place and deciding the winner. Testing will begin tomorrow (25 June 2026) at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Henry, fresh from regaining joint number one spot in the world, will face a venue renowned as a fast bowling haven. If Henry emulates his 11-wicket performance at The Oval, he could become the sole holder of the ICC’s No. 1 Test bowling position, breaking his current tie with Jasprit Bumrah.
