Mitchell Starc Becomes No. 1 Test Bowler, Ends Jasprit Bumrah’s 697-Day Reign
Mitchell Starc has achieved a major milestone in his illustrious international career by becoming the number one bowler in the ICC Test rankings for the first time. The Australian left-arm fast bowler moved two places to the top after delivering a sensational performance against Bangladesh in the Mackay Test.
Starc claimed 10 wickets in the match, helping Australia secure a dominant innings and 51-run victory. His outstanding performance lifted him to 872 rating points, putting him 10 points ahead of India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who has slipped to second place with 862 points.
Bumrah’s move out of the top spot marks the end of a remarkable period of dominance. The Indian fast bowler has spent a combined 697 days at number one in the ICC Test bowling rankings, the longest total stint by an Indian bowler.
Mitchell Starc Finally Reaches the Top
For Mitchell Starc, becoming the number one Test bowler is a landmark achievement that has been years in the making.
The 36-year-old has been one of the most dangerous fast bowlers in international cricket for more than a decade. His ability to generate extreme pace, swing the ball and produce devastating yorkers has made him a constant threat in Test cricket.
Despite spending much of his career among the world’s elite bowlers, Starc had never previously occupied the number one position in the Test bowling rankings. His previous career-best ranking was number two.
His latest achievement has therefore added another prestigious milestone to an already outstanding career.
Starc’s Match-Winning Performance Against Bangladesh
Starc’s rise to the top was powered by a spectacular bowling performance against Bangladesh in Mackay.
The Australian speedster took six wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings before returning to claim another four wickets in the second innings. His match haul of 10 wickets completely changed the course of the game.
Bangladesh struggled against Starc’s pace and movement and were dismissed for fewer than 100 runs in both innings. Australia went on to win the Test by an innings and 51 runs.
The performance not only strengthened Australia’s position but also provided Starc with the rating boost required to overtake Bumrah.
With 872 rating points, Starc is now officially the highest-ranked Test bowler in the world.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Remarkable 697-Day Reign
Jasprit Bumrah’s fall to second place does not diminish his extraordinary record at the top of the rankings.
Bumrah first reached number one in the ICC Test bowling rankings on February 7, 2024, after producing a brilliant performance against England in the Visakhapatnam Test.
He took nine wickets in that match and became the first Indian fast bowler to reach the number one position in the Test bowling rankings.
Bumrah has spent a combined 697 days at number one. However, the figure does not represent one uninterrupted period. Other bowlers occupied the top position at different points, meaning Bumrah’s separate spells at number one have been added together.
Even so, 697 days is a historic achievement. It represents the longest cumulative reign at number one by an Indian bowler and ranks among the longest periods by any bowler in Test history.
Bumrah Reached a Record 907 Rating Points
Bumrah reached another remarkable milestone during 2025 when his rating climbed to 907 points.
The Indian fast bowler produced a sensational performance against Australia in the Melbourne Test, taking nine wickets. That effort pushed his rating to 907, the highest rating ever achieved by an Indian bowler in the ICC Test rankings.
Bumrah’s success has been built on his extraordinary consistency and versatility. He can swing the new ball, extract movement from the surface, reverse swing the older ball and deliver accurate yorkers under pressure.
These qualities have made him one of the most complete fast bowlers in modern Test cricket.
Matt Henry Also Challenged Bumrah in 2026
Bumrah faced strong competition for the number one ranking during 2026.
New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry produced an impressive performance in June, taking 11 wickets and moving level with Bumrah at the top of the rankings.
Bumrah subsequently regained sole possession of the number one spot, but the competition demonstrated how closely matched the world’s leading Test bowlers had become.
Now Starc has taken the next big step by moving ahead of both Bumrah and Henry.
Bumrah’s Absence Opens the Door for Starc
Bumrah is currently not featuring in India’s ongoing World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka.
His absence has played a role in the latest rankings, particularly because Starc has produced an exceptional performance at exactly the right time.
While Bumrah has been away from Test action, Starc has strengthened his position with a match-winning 10-wicket haul.
The combination of Starc’s outstanding performance and Bumrah’s absence has allowed the Australian to gain enough rating points to move into first place.
Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon Also Move Up
Starc is not the only Australian bowler to benefit from the latest ICC rankings.
Australia captain Pat Cummins has climbed one place to fourth. Cummins also played a key role in the victory over Bangladesh, taking six wickets in the second Test.
His consistent performances continue to keep him among the leading Test bowlers in the world.
Experienced off-spinner Nathan Lyon has also made significant progress. Lyon moved two places higher and has now entered the top 10 at number 10.
Meanwhile, Scott Boland dropped one place to seventh.
The strong presence of Australian bowlers in the top rankings highlights the depth and quality of Australia’s Test bowling attack.
Ollie Robinson and Josh Tong Make Major Gains
England’s bowlers have also made impressive progress following the Headingley Test against Pakistan.
Ollie Robinson and Josh Tong combined to take 16 wickets in the match, and their performances resulted in substantial ranking gains.
Robinson jumped 15 places to reach 11th position.
Josh Tong made an even bigger move, climbing 16 places to 17th.
Their rapid rise demonstrates how quickly ICC rankings can change when bowlers produce decisive performances in Test matches.
Manav Suthar Makes a Stunning 28-Place Jump
India also has another reason to celebrate in the latest bowling rankings.
Young spinner Manav Suthar has made a stunning 28-place jump and is now ranked 48th in the world.
Suthar’s recent performances have been particularly impressive.
He took seven wickets on his Test debut against Afghanistan, immediately making an impact at the highest level. He followed that performance with another outstanding display against Sri Lanka in the Galle Test, where he claimed 10 wickets.
He has also already taken three wickets in the first innings of the ongoing second Test in Colombo.
His rapid rise in the rankings is a strong indication that India could have another promising spin option developing for the future.
Rishabh Pant Returns to the Test Top 10
The latest Test batting rankings also contain encouraging news for India.
Rishabh Pant has made a significant jump into the top 10 after producing an explosive half-century in the second innings of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka.
Pant climbed six places and is now ranked seventh jointly with Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne.
His return to the top 10 is particularly significant because Pant has had to overcome injuries and periods away from international cricket.
His aggressive batting style, ability to change the momentum of a Test match and fearless approach make him one of India’s most valuable batting assets.
Shubman Gill Remains Among the Elite
India’s young batting star Shubman Gill is also firmly positioned among the world’s leading Test batsmen.
Gill is currently ranked eighth, continuing to establish himself as one of the most important players in India’s Test batting lineup.
The top four positions remain unchanged.
England’s Harry Brook occupies the number one position, followed by Joe Root at number two. Australia’s Steve Smith is third, while Travis Head remains fourth.
The presence of Pant and Gill inside the top eight highlights the strength of India’s current Test batting unit.
KL Rahul and Other Batters Make Progress
Several other players have also benefited from the latest rankings.
India’s KL Rahul climbed five places to reach 30th position.
Australia’s Cameron Green made a major nine-place jump and is now 21st. Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva climbed two places to share 22nd position.
Pakistan batter Abdullah Shafique also moved seven places higher and is now jointly ranked 27th.
These movements underline the importance of recent Test performances in determining the latest ICC rankings.
Ravindra Jadeja Remains the No. 1 All-Rounder
India’s Ravindra Jadeja continues to dominate the Test all-rounder rankings.
Jadeja remains firmly at number one, underlining his importance to the Indian Test team.
His ability to contribute consistently with both bat and ball has kept him at the top of the all-rounder rankings.
Pat Cummins has also improved his position, moving one place higher to seventh.
Cameron Green is jointly ranked 17th, while Ollie Robinson sits at 23rd among Test all-rounders.
A New Battle Between Starc and Bumrah
Mitchell Starc’s rise to number one has created a fascinating new battle at the top of Test bowling.
Starc currently has 872 rating points, while Bumrah has 862. The 10-point difference shows just how close the contest remains.
Bumrah has already demonstrated his ability to reclaim the top position after losing it in the past. Starc, meanwhile, will be determined to maintain his position after finally reaching number one for the first time.
Their performances in upcoming Test matches could produce another major change in the rankings.
Conclusion
The latest ICC Test rankings have delivered several major developments in world cricket.
Mitchell Starc has finally reached the number one Test bowling position after 15 years of international cricket. His sensational 10-wicket performance against Bangladesh proved decisive and lifted him to 872 rating points.
For Jasprit Bumrah, the move to second place marks the end of a remarkable period of dominance. His combined 697 days at number one remain a historic achievement and represent the longest cumulative reign by an Indian bowler.
India can also take plenty of positives from the latest rankings. Rishabh Pant has returned to the top 10, Shubman Gill remains among the elite Test batsmen, Manav Suthar has made a spectacular 28-place jump and Ravindra Jadeja continues to occupy the number one all-rounder position.
The biggest question now is whether Bumrah can reclaim the crown or whether Starc can establish a long-lasting reign at the top.
With only 10 rating points separating the two fast bowlers, the next chapter of this thrilling Test bowling battle promises to be intense, competitive and full of surprises.
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