Kane Williamson tops ICC rankings for the world's best test batter - despite not hitting a ball since the end of March.
Williamson, 32, hasn't played since rupturing knee ligaments for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League season-opener, but England's Joe Root could only manage scores of 10 and 18 in the second Ashes test against Australia, and the drop in ranking points sees Williamson move into top spot by default.
With 883 points, Williamson is one clear of Australia's Steve Smith, who climbed up to No.2 in the world, after making 110 and 34 at Lord's, where his side took a 2-0 series lead against England.
Compatriot Marnus Labuschagne remains at No.3 in the rankings, 10 points behind Williamson, despite scores of 0, 13, 47 and 30 in his four Ashes innings so far.
Fellow Blackcap Daryl Mitchell is the only other New Zealander in the top 10, sitting eighth with 792 ranking points.
Moving atop the rankings sees Williamson claim the rank of world's best test batter for the sixth time in his career, with the first coming in 2015.
Before his injury, Williamson had rediscovered the vein of form that saw him regarded among the best batters in the world.
Since giving up the Blackcaps test captaincy at the end of 2022, Williamson has struck four centuries - two of them doubles - with 756 runs at an average of 94.50.
Williamson is currently in a race to return to fitness for this year's Cricket World Cup in India.
Facing a nine-month timeline to return from the injury, Williamson told Newshub about his recovery process last month.
"It's a long journey, and the only thing that can be measured is at the end of a week and at the end of a month," he said. "There's so many of those to go [until the World Cup].
"In my own mind, I want to be getting back and playing as quickly as possible, but I also know it's something that can't be rushed.
"It is trying to do it well and do it properly. The focus is on getting the injury back to full strength, and you can only hope that coincides with a few other things that I'm interested in doing and being part of.
"It's so far away, so it's tough to entertain too much, because the work between now and then - there's a lot. That's the focus and Mother Nature has got a bit to do with it as well
"We'll see where we land."
Without Williamson, Tom Latham or Tim Southee are both in contention to lead New Zealand at this year's World Cup.
