Williamson leapt from third to first after his player-of-the-match effort led the Black Caps to a 101-run victory over Pakistan this week, scoring 129 in the first innings and a rapid 21 in the second when New Zealand were building a lead before declaring.
The New Zealand skipper described it as “humbling” to overtake Smith, who held the top spot for 313 days this year, and Kohli, who was number one for 51 days.
Smith slipped to third in the rankings behind Kohli following scores of nought and eight in Australia’s second Test against India while Kohli was on paternity leave.
“They are incredible players of our generation,” Williamson said as he arrived in Christchurch ahead of the second Pakistan Test which starts on Sunday.
“Those two players are the best so for me to sneak up perhaps in some way, is very surprising and humbling.”
All three players were this week named in the International Cricket Council’s team of the decade with Smith also named as the individual Test player of the decade. Kohli took the award for the best one-day player.
Meanwhile, New Zealand pace bowler Neil Wagner, who battled through the pain of two broken toes in the first Test against Pakistan, will miss the second match at Hagley Oval in Christchurch starting on Sunday, coach Gary Stead.
Wagner needed pain-killing injections during the Test, which the hosts won by 101 runs, after he was struck on the foot while batting on the second day at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
He bowled several lengthy spells over the next three days and was instrumental in New Zealand sealing victory late on the final day when he captured centurion Fawad Alam and the dangerous Faheen Ashraf to expose the Pakistan tail.
“Neil was absolutely outstanding,” Stead told reporters at Christchurch airport yesterday. “I don’t think there are too many individuals who could do what he did in that Test match.
“Neil hasn’t travelled with us. The injections he was getting (to lessen the pain) were wearing off (quickly) and we can’t let him go through that again.”
The left-arm quick would be out of action for up to six weeks. Stead said they would likely name his replacement on Friday, adding that they would go “like for like”.
Matt Henry, who has often been drafted in when a pace bowler goes down injured, is in contention after recovering from a hand injury.
Stead was pleased with the first test performance against a tough Pakistan side, who were behind for much of the match but were still in with a chance of snatching victory in the final session.
“That was tough, really hard test cricket and it was good to come out on the right side of it against a tough Pakistan team,” he said.
“I thought Mohammad Rizwan and Fawad Alam’s partnership was outstanding... and they nearly took the game away from us.
“That’s what makes Test cricket what it is.”
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