Top 15 Current New Zealand Test Cricketers 🇳🇿 #13: Jacob Duffy

Few players have made a stronger case for themselves with limited opportunities than Jacob Duffy.

After years of consistently performing in domestic cricket, Duffy has finally been given an extended opportunity at international level and he has grabbed it with both hands. Whether in Test cricket or the white-ball formats, the Southland seamer has delivered time and time again, establishing himself as one of New Zealand's most dependable bowlers.

Yet despite his outstanding performances, No. 13 feels like the right place.

Not because Duffy hasn't been good enough, but because he simply hasn't played enough Test cricket to justify ranking him above more established internationals.

Why #13?

This series ranks the current best Test cricketers in New Zealand, balancing recent form, impact, and body of work.

On performance alone, Jacob Duffy could easily be ranked higher.

In just four Test matches, Duffy has taken 25 wickets at an extraordinary average of 16.28, including three five-wicket hauls and career-best figures of 5/34. His strike rate of 41.2 and economy rate of 2.37 underline just how effective he has been whenever handed the new ball.

Those are elite numbers by any measure.

The only reason Duffy sits at No. 13 is because those statistics have come from a relatively small sample size. The players above him have demonstrated their quality across many more Test matches and over a much longer period.

Current Form:

Jacob Duffy is enjoying the best cricket of his career.

His ability to swing the new ball, hit disciplined areas and build relentless pressure has made him one of New Zealand's most reliable bowlers regardless of format.

His performances have not been limited to Test cricket.

Across ODI and T20I cricket, Duffy has also become one of the Black Caps' most dependable seam bowlers, regularly providing early breakthroughs while maintaining excellent control. His consistency across all three formats was recognised at the 2026 New Zealand Cricket Awards, where he claimed the prestigious Sir Richard Hadlee Medal as New Zealand's Men's Player of the Year after an outstanding season.

Winning New Zealand's highest individual cricket honour speaks volumes about the level he has reached.

Importance to New Zealand:

Fast bowling has long been New Zealand's greatest strength, and Jacob Duffy has become an increasingly important part of that tradition.

He offers control with the new ball, attacks the stumps consistently and rarely allows opposition batters to score freely. Those qualities make him an ideal partner for strike bowlers while also giving captains complete confidence to throw him the ball in difficult situations.

As New Zealand continues transitioning into its next generation of fast bowlers, Duffy has established himself as one of the first names competing for a place in the attack.

Why He Isn't Higher?

This is where the ranking becomes difficult.

There is no questioning Jacob Duffy's quality.

His numbers suggest he could comfortably sit inside New Zealand's top ten current Test cricketers.

However, four outstanding Test matches are still only four Test matches.

The players above him—Nathan Smith, Mitchell Santner, Henry Nicholls and Glenn Phillips—have built larger bodies of work at Test level and have proven themselves across multiple series.

If Duffy continues performing the way he has over the next year, it would be very difficult to keep him outside the top ten.

The Counterargument:

Some readers will argue Jacob Duffy is ranked far too low.

Looking purely at his performances, that argument carries plenty of weight.

Few players have taken their opportunities as impressively as Duffy. His Test record is exceptional, while his success in white-ball cricket earned him New Zealand's highest individual cricket award.

However, rankings should reward sustained excellence as much as outstanding beginnings.

At this stage, there simply isn't enough Test cricket behind him to justify placing him ahead of players who have produced over significantly longer periods.

Looking Ahead to the Trans-Tasman Trophy

Australia presents the toughest challenge any New Zealand fast bowler can face.

If Jacob Duffy can continue swinging the new ball, maintaining his discipline and producing wickets against one of the world's strongest batting line-ups, this ranking could quickly become outdated.

A successful Trans-Tasman Trophy would strengthen his claim to be one of New Zealand's premier Test bowlers.

Verdict:

Jacob Duffy has done almost everything that could have been asked of him.

He has excelled in Test cricket, become a genuine match-winner in the white-ball formats and earned New Zealand's highest individual cricket honour through consistent performances across the international season.

The only thing holding him back is opportunity.

His outstanding numbers have come from a relatively small body of work, making No. 13 a fair reflection of where he currently sits among New Zealand's best Test cricketers.

If he continues on his current trajectory, don't be surprised if this ranking looks far too conservative by the end of the summer.

Player Report Card:

Current Form

7.5/10

International Experience

6.5/10

Importance to New Zealand

6.5/10

Overall Ranking:

#13

Tomorrow: #12

Stay tuned….