Watling overtakes De Kock as top 'keeper in Test rankings

Cape Town - South African-born New Zealand batsman B.J. Watling is now the top-ranked wicketkeeper-batsman in the world, having overtaken Proteas gloveman Quinton de Kock.

Watling's 205 helped the Black Caps triumph over England by an innings and 65 runs in their first Test in Tauranga.

And that double century saw him move up the latest ICC Test rankings, rising 12 places to 12th position.

De Kock is the highest ranked South African Test batsman and currently sits in 16th position.

Black Caps fast bowler Neil Wagner, who was born in Pretoria, also shot up in the latest ICC rankings after his match-winning 5-44 against England.

Wagner's eight-wicket match haul has catapulted him to a career-best third position and is 23 points away from overtaking Proteas bowler Kagiso Rabada in second place.

Meanwhile, Proteas seamer Vernon Philander has moved up two places to seventh position - despite not playing any Tests.

The Proteas kick off their summer when they host England for four Tests, starting on December 26 at Centurion.

ICC Test rankings:

Batsmen

1. Steve Smith (AUS) - 931

2. Virat Kohli (IND) - 928

3. Kane Williamson (NZ) - 877

4. Cheteshwar Pujara (IND) - 791

5. Ajinkya Rahane (IND) - 759

6. Henry Nicholls (NZ) - 744

7. Dimuth Karunaratne (SL) - 723

8. Tom Latham (NZ) - 707

9. Ben Stokes (ENG) - 704

10. Mayank Agarwal (IND) - 700

Bowlers

1. Pat Cummins (AUS) - 907

2. Kagiso Rabada (SA) - 839

3. Neil Wagner (NZ) - 816

4. Jason Holder (WI) - 814

5. Jasprit Bumrah (IND) - 794

6. James Anderson (ENG) - 790

7. Vernon Philander (SA) - 783

8. Kemar Roach (WI) - 780

T9. Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) - 772

T9. Josh Hazlewood (AUS) - 772

- Compiled by Lynn Butler