Mackay: Starc claims top Test bowler ranking, Bumrah drops to second

By Priya Patel — 26 August 2026 — 4 min read

Starc’s Ascent to Top Spot

Australia pacer Mitchell Starc has achieved the No. 1 ranking in ICC Men’s Test Bowler Rankings for the first time in his career. This significant rise follows his dominant performance against Bangladesh, where he was named Player of the Series. Starc’s ascent displaces Jasprit Bumrah from the top position, which the India bowler had held for much of the past two years, first reaching it in February 2024.

Starc’s performance in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay was pivotal, as he collected 10 wickets for the match. This included figures of 6/12 in the first innings and 4/39 in the second, contributing to Australia’s innings and 51-run victory that levelled the World Test Championship series. The 36-year-old left-arm pacer moved up two places in the rankings, surpassing both Bumrah and New Zealand’s Matt Henry.

While Starc has been a consistent presence within the top 10 for much of his 15-year Test career, this marks his inaugural time at the pinnacle. He had previously entered the top three following strong performances against England in the Ashes series towards the end of last year. His previous best ranking was No. 2, achieved after the Boxing Day Test last year.

Impact on Other Rankings

With Starc’s rise, Jasprit Bumrah now sits in second place, while Matt Henry drops to third. Starc’s Australia teammate, Pat Cummins, also saw an improvement, moving up one place to fourth in the Test bowler rankings after taking six wickets in the match against Bangladesh. Spinner Nathan Lyon also gained two spots, reaching 10th place.

The rankings also saw notable gains for England bowlers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue. Following their match-winning efforts against Pakistan in the first Test in Headingley, where they combined for 16 wickets, Robinson jumped 15 spots to 11th place. Tongue improved by 16 rungs, moving to 17th overall. Robinson’s individual performance included figures of 5/51 and 3/39 in England’s innings and 103-run victory in Leeds.

Further movements in the bowling rankings include India’s Manav Suthar, who jumped 28 places to a career-best 48th after a 10-wicket match haul in India’s 165-run win over Sri Lanka in Galle. Sri Lanka bowlers Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya both gained five places to reach 15th and 16th respectively. Other bowlers who moved up include Pakistan’s Ali Usman (up 30 places to 67th), England’s Jofra Archer (up six places to joint-38th), India’s Prasidh Krishna (up two places to 53rd), and Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam (up 17 places to 57th).

Batting and All-Rounder Rankings

The top of the Test batter rankings remains unchanged, with England duo Harry Brook (first) and Joe Root (second) maintaining their positions. They hold a lead over Australia pair Steve Smith (third) and Travis Head (fourth). Harry Brook further extended his lead at the top after scoring 90 against Pakistan, now leading teammate Joe Root by 24 rating points.

A significant mover within the top 10 batting rankings is India’s Rishabh Pant, who gained six spots to rise to equal seventh. This improvement came after his quickfire half-century in the second innings of India’s victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle, where he scored 39 and 66. This marks Pant’s return to the top 10 for the first time in a year.

Outside the top 10, gains were also observed for Australia all-rounder Cameron Green (up nine spots to 21st), Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva (up two places to equal 22nd), Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique (up seven rungs to equal 27th), and India right-hander KL Rahul (up five slots to 30th). Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha and India’s Devdutt Padikkal also saw gains, with Padikkal re-entering the rankings at 59th.

In the updated rankings for Test all-rounders, India veteran Ravindra Jadeja continues to hold the No. 1 spot. Pat Cummins moved up one spot to seventh, while Cameron Green climbed one place to equal 17th. Ollie Robinson also made gains, rising five rungs to 23rd in the all-rounder list.

Bumrah’s absence from India’s ongoing ICC World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka played a role in the change at the top of the bowling rankings, as he is currently out of the series due to an injury.

Source: icc-cricket.com

Priya Patel

Priya Patel writes on politics and current affairs for Latest News, reporting on Parliament, policy and the decisions that affect readers across India.

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