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Australia National Cricket Team fast bowler Mitchell Starc has retained his position as the No. 1 Test bowler in the world after his brilliant performance in the recent three-match Test series against the South Africa National Cricket Team.
Although Australia lost the Test series 1-2 to South Africa, the left-arm pacer has climbed to the top of the latest ICC Test Bowling Rankings, replacing South African all-rounder Marco Jansen. Earlier, Faf du Plessis names more valuable Test player than Marco Jansen; snubs Joe Root & Jasprit Bumrah.
Mitchell Starc reclaims No.1 spot in ICC Test Rankings
Mitchell Starc has become the number one bowler in Test cricket as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has shared the updated ICC Test Bowling Rankings following the third and final Test between the Australia National Cricket Team and the South Africa National Cricket Team.
Starc's sensational performance in the final Test in Cape Town helped him to regain his No. 1 spot in the ICC Test Rankings. The fiery speedster picked up nine wickets in Cape Town, which helped him to reclaim the top spot in the rankings. This means Marco Jansen dropped to the second spot.
The pacer first reached the No. 1 position in the ICC Test rankings in August, when he replaced Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. However, Starc’s reign did not last long, as Marco Jansen took over the position after claiming six wickets in the second Test against Australia in Gqeberha.
But the Australian bowler has now turned the tables. While Starc finished the Cape Town Test with nine wickets, Jansen managed only three wickets. This helped Starc to move ahead and reclaim the number one position in the ICC Test Rankings.
Simon Harmer makes huge jump in ICC Test Rankings as Marco Jansen drops to No. 2
Marco Jansen is now ranked the second-best Test bowler in the world. Apart from the young all-rounder, South African off-spinner Simon Harmer has made the biggest jump after his match-winning performance in the Cape Town Test against Australia.
Harmer played a key role in South Africa's 176-run victory in the final Test and clinched the series by taking six wickets in Australia's second innings. He has gained nine places to reach seventh position in the Test bowling rankings, overtaking his teammate Kagiso Rabada, who is now the 8th ranked bowler.
The off-spinner's current rating of 817 points is the second-highest ever achieved by a South African spinner. Only Hugh Tayfield is ahead of him, with 895 points recorded in February 1957. Amid this, Virat Kohli becomes first-ever No. 3 batter to score 13,000 runs in ODI cricket.
Marco Jansen becomes No.1 Test All-Rounder
Although Marco Jansen has lost his No. 1 position as the Test bowler, he has strengthened his position at the top of the Test all-rounders' rankings. Jansen’s half-century in the third Test helped him achieve a new career-best rating in this category.
South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder has also moved up one place to third, while Harmer has gained three positions to reach fifth in the latest Test all-rounders' rankings. Following the update, Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja dropped to the second spot, while Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan is fourth.
Aiden Markram has climbed one place to 11th, while Mulder has made a big jump of seven positions to reach 17th in the ICC Test Ranking for the batters. Ryan Rickelton has been one of the biggest gainers, moving up 25 places to 23rd and achieving a new career-best rating.
Australia and West Indies players make gains in latest ICC Test Rankings
Cameron Green has improved by three places and is now joint 19th, while wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey has moved up two positions to share the same ranking for the batters.
West Indies batter Justin Greaves has also made a huge jump following his team's impressive victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Mirpur. Greaves has climbed 12 places to reach joint 38th and has achieved a new career-best rating.
The West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican has gained six places to reach 30th in the Test bowling rankings while Roston Chase has moved up eight positions to share 23rd place in the Test all-rounders' rankings.
