On the back of their recent successes against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the West Indies team has climbed up two places on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Test Match rankings released today (May 13).

There was further good news as former captain Jason Holder remains the Number 1 Test all-rounder and is also the highest ranked West Indies Test bowler at Number eight. Kemar Roach is the next highest at Number 12.

The West Indies leapfrogged South Africa and Sri Lanka into sixth place with 84 points ahead of the Proteas on 80 and Sri Lanka on 78. India lead the rankings on 121 points with New Zealand second  on 120, England are third with 109 while Australia and Pakistan are fourth and fifth with 108 and 94 points, respectively.

The news was music to the ears of Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite.

“I’m very proud of the team to jump two places in the Test rankings. I think this is just the beginning of good things to come,” said Brathwaite this morning from Bristol in England where he is playing for Gloucestershire in the County Championship.

“As a group it shows that we can climb up the ladder and it’s just important for us to work hard and keep the belief and attitude to doing things right – in the preparation and the execution on the field. Once we continue to do the small things right, and have the right attitude … because Test cricket is never easy… the sky is the limit.”

The West Indies growth and progress was evident in the team’s 2-0 win away to Bangladesh and the hard-fought 0-0 draw in the Sandals Test Series at home against Sri Lanka.

It signals an overall rise for the team as last month it was announced the team moved up one spot in the ICC One-Day International (ODI) rankings – following the 3-0 clean sweep over Sri Lanka in the CG Insurance ODI Series.

CWI Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams was also elated at the positive development and praised the players and the support staff.

“I am pleased to see the improvement from eighth to sixth in our Test ranking. This comes on the back of good cricket played earlier in the year against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,” he said.

“Firstly, we should recognise the efforts of the players and support staff on the ground who have delivered results under pressure and secondly to the large number of people working tirelessly in the background to support them in the face of multiple challenges. We continue to work hard towards our strategic goal of top 3 rankings across all formats.”

The West Indies will next play against South Africa in June and then face fifth-ranked Pakistan in a Test Series due to played in August 2021 as part of the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.