Cricket: Kane Williamson continues to rise in ICC rankings

Kane Williamson gets into the swing of things against Sri Lanka. Photo / Getty Images

Star Black Caps batsman Kane Williamson is continuing his ascent up the test batting rankings.

The 25 year-old has surpassed Australian skipper Steve Smith in the International Cricket Council's rankings, moving into third on the list.

Williamson, who scored 88 and 71 in Dunedin against Sri Lanka, has 878 points, three behind South African AB De Villiers and a further five behind the leader, England's Joe Root.

The Northern Districts product is also third on the ODI batting rankings, behind De Villiers and India's Virat Kohli.

Elsewhere in the batting rankings, Ross Taylor sits in 12th spot while Brendon McCullum is also in the top 20, in 17th.

Tom Latham (30th) and BJ Watling (31st) are also rated highly, while Martin Guptill jumped 18 places to 53rd after his third test century.

In the bowling ranks, Trent Boult, who is judged to be the third best ODI bowler, remains in sixth on the test rankings, while opening bowling partner Tim Southee is in 12th.

Neil Wagner has jumped three places to 23rd, and young all-rounder Mitchell Santner has made his debut in the top 100, at 88th.