Stark creates panic in Mackay
Mitchell Starc took 6 wickets for 12 runs in the first innings of the second Test against Bangladesh and 4 wickets for 39 runs in the second innings. Thanks to his brilliant performance, Australia won the match by an innings and 51 runs. Starc was adjudged the best player of the match as well as the series.
Starc’s previous best Test bowling ranking was No. 2, which he achieved after the Boxing Day Test last year. The 36-year-old Australian fast bowler has consistently been among the top bowlers in the world in his 15-year-old Test career, but reaching the number-1 position is for the first time in his career.
Breathing fire every time he takes the ball 🔥
Mitchell Starc ascends to No.1 in the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings 🔝
More ➡️ pic.twitter.com/SvjlhKaFEk
— ICC (@ICC) August 26, 2026
Bumrah slipped to second position
After Starc became number-1, Jasprit Bumrah has reached second place, while New Zealand’s Matt Henry is at number three. Bumrah’s recent number-1 tenure lasted for about two months. However, he has been the world No. 1 Test bowler for a total of 697 days, which is the longest tenure for an Indian bowler and the 14th longest in Test cricket history.
Bumrah became number-1 in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings for the first time in February 2024. His current ranking has also been affected by India’s absence from the ongoing ICC World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka.
Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon also benefit
Australian captain Pat Cummins has also moved up one place in the rankings to number four. He took six wickets in the second test against Bangladesh.
Australia’s experienced spinner Nathan Lyon has also benefited. He has jumped two places to reach 10th position in the rankings for Test bowlers.
England’s Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue have also made big leaps. After a brilliant performance in the Headingley Test against Pakistan, Robinson has moved up 15 places to 11th and Tong has moved up 16 places to 17th.
India’s left-arm spinner Manav Suthar has also made big leaps. After taking 10 wickets in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, he has moved up 28 places to a career-best 48th ranking.
Harry Brook number-1 in test batting ranking
England’s Harry Brook remains at the top in the rankings of Test batsmen. He has further strengthened his lead over his compatriot Joe Root. Brook is now 24 rating points ahead of Root.
Joe Root is in second place and Australia’s Steve Smith is in third place. Travis Head remains at number four.
India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has returned to the top-10. After playing innings of 39 and 66 runs in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, Pant has moved up six places to joint seventh position. He has again returned to the top-10 ranking of Test batsmen after almost a year.
These batsmen also benefited
In the rankings outside the top-20, Australia’s Cameron Green has moved up nine places to reach number 21. Sri Lanka’s Dhananjay de Silva has moved up two places to 22nd, Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafiq has moved up seven places to joint 27th and India’s KL Rahul has moved up to 30th with a jump of five places.India’s Devdutt Padikkal has also re-entered the Test batting rankings and is at 59th. Sonal Dinusha of Sri Lanka has achieved 54th rank by making a big jump of 49 places.
Jadeja tops Test all-rounder rankings
India’s Ravindra Jadeja remains at number-1 position in the rankings of Test all-rounders. Australia’s Pat Cummins has moved up one place to seventh position. Cameron Green is tied for 17th and Ollie Robinson is tied for 23rd.What does ICC Test Rankings mean for India?
Mitchell Starc becoming number-1 is a big achievement for Australia, while Jasprit Bumrah slipping to second place is an important change in the ranking for India. Bumrah’s absence and Starc’s stellar recent performances have changed the equation at the top of the Test bowling rankings. At the same time, Rishabh Pant’s return to the top-10 is a positive sign for Indian batting.