New Zealand maintained their second spot in the Test rankings Monday after thrashing West Indies by an innings and 12 runs to wrap up an emphatic series win.
The win lifted the Black Caps to 116 points, just behind Australia (116) on decimal points, and also extended their unbeaten home run to 15 Tests.
New Zealand also stayed in the hunt for the inaugural World Test Championship final as they overtook England to move into third in the standings behind Australia and India, who start a four-Test series this week.
“It does sound pretty cool,” said Tom Latham, New Zealand’s stand-in captain while Kane Williamson is on paternity leave.
“We have been playing some good cricket as of late in our conditions, and away for that matter, and it’s a pretty cool thing.”
After Williamson pulled out on the eve of the second Test, Latham said the team stepped up with Henry Nicholls overcoming a form slump to score 174 and lay the foundations of the victory.
