Mitchell Starc Overtakes Jasprit Bumrah to Claim World No. 1 Test Bowling Ranking for the First Time

• by Akanksha Mishra
• 2026-08-26 14:43:00

Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has achieved a historic milestone in his illustrious 15-year international career, claiming the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings for the first time. The 36-year-old fast bowler climbed to the summit following a sensational 10-wicket match haul against Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay, a performance that also earned him the Player of the Series award.

Starc Overtakes Bumrah as Rankings Shift

With this career-defining surge, Starc surpassed India pace talisman Jasprit Bumrah, bringing an end to Bumrah’s extended reign at the top. Bumrah, who first captured the No. 1 ranking in February 2024, slipped to second place due to his absence from India's current World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, New Zealand seamer Matt Henry rounded out the top three.

Starc's rise to the top crowns a remarkable phase for the veteran left-armer, who previously moved into the top three following his stellar exploits against England in the Ashes. Other notable movers in the bowling rankings include Australia captain Pat Cummins, who climbed to fourth after taking six wickets against Bangladesh, and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, who advanced to 10th. English pacers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue also made massive strides after combining for 16 wickets at Headingley against Pakistan, jumping to 11th and 17th respectively.

Harry Brook Leads Batting Standings as Rishabh Pant Climbs

At the top of the Test batting charts, stability reigned as England's Harry Brook and Joe Root maintained their hold on the first and second positions, followed by Australia’s Steve Smith and Travis Head.

For India, dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant made the biggest splash near the top of the batting order. Following a blistering half-century in the second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, Pant surged six places to share seventh spot. Other climbers included Cameron Green (21st), Abdullah Shafique (27th), and KL Rahul (30th). In the all-rounder category, Ravindra Jadeja comfortably retained his No. 1 ranking, solidifying India's continued prominence across the global cricket standings.

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