New Zealand's rise to No.1: Greatest hits

New Zealand are enjoying a golden period in their cricketing history. After having made to two successive ICC Men's Cricket World Cup finals, they have now climbed to the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings for the first time ever.

Their Test team has been a truly dominant force in recent years, achieving noteworthy victories both overseas and at home. We take a look at some of their finest wins in the current rankings cycle, starting 1 May 2017.

Four-run win v Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, November 2018

After being bundled for 153 in the first innings, New Zealand fought back to bowl Pakistan out for 227 before setting them a moderately challenging target of 175, thanks mainly to fifties from Henry Nicholls and BJ Watling.

Pakistan's chase got off to a bumpy start as they were reduced to 48/3 by New Zealand's spinners, but Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq steadied the proceedings with an 82-run stand. However, things took a turn when Neil Wagner had Shafiq caught behind for 45 in the middle of an intense and long spell in the Gulf heat. After Babar Azam was run out for 13, Ajaz Patel then ran through the lower order. He dismissed Azhar to wrap up the game, securing a five-for as New Zealand claimed a narrow win.

Innings-and-49-run win v England, Auckland, March 2018

New Zealand would've been keen to put on a performance in their maiden day/night Test on home soil, and they delivered a sensational show. Trent Boult and Tim Southee exploited the swing on offer with the pink ball to bundle out the visitors for 58. The new-ball pair bowled unchanged for the 20.4 overs that England's innings lasted, with Boult claiming six and Southee taking the other four.

Then, as if batting under different conditions altogether, New Zealand posted 427/8 before declaring. Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls scored hundreds to head the efforts with the bat. In a collective bowling effort, New Zealand then bowled England out for 320 in the second innings to secure a massive win.

Innings-and-65-run win v Sri Lanka, Colombo, August 2019

After Trent Boult and Tim Southee used the gentle swing on offer to take seven wickets between them and bowl the hosts out for 244, Tom Latham and BJ Watling scored centuries to put New Zealand in a truly dominant position. Overall the team's handling of spin was commendable.

They declared at 431/6 and the bowlers then joined hands to make light work of the hosts, bundling them for 122 in another impressive win for the Kiwis in foreign conditions.

Seven-wicket win v India, Christchurch, February-March 2020

In the weeks leading up to the series, India were considered by some as favourites. There was good reasoning for this as India had claimed a historic series win in another Southern Hemisphere country – Australia – only the previous year, and they were ranked No.1 on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings. New Zealand, on the other hand, had suffered a humbling 3-0 loss in Australia only weeks ago.

But they were back at their best in no time. They handed India a crushing 10-wicket win in the first game of the series and dished up more of the same in Christchurch. After Kyle Jamieson, playing his maiden series, claimed 5/45 to help bowl India out for 242, the hosts themselves fell for 235. But Boult and Southee shared seven wickets between them to run through the Indian order in their second innings, bowling them out for 124. New Zealand had little trouble chasing the target down as openers Tom Latham and Tom Blundell made fifties. They took the series 2-0.

123-run win v Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, December 2018

New Zealand suffered defeat by an innings and 16 runs in the second Test at Dubai after their miraculous four-run win in Abu Dhabi in the opening Test. Back at the same venue for the third Test, the Kiwis put in a much-improved performance. After making 274 they conceded a 74-run lead to Pakistan.

However, Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls hit centuries in New Zealand's second innings before declaring at 353/7, setting Pakistan a target of 280 with over two sessions remaining. A draw seemed like the most probable outcome at that stage, but Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel and William Somerville took three wickets apiece to bowl Pakistan out for 156. The win also marked New Zealand's first series win against Pakistan away from home in 45 years!