ICC Rankings: Starc dethrones Bumrah as No.1 Test bowler after 10-wicket haul
Synopsis
For the first time in 15 years of Test cricket, Mitchell Starc stands alone at the top of the ICC bowler rankings — a career summit reached on the back of a 10-wicket series-winning display against Bangladesh. Bumrah's two-year grip on the No.1 spot is broken, and with India's WTC campaign against Sri Lanka ongoing, the table could shift again before the month is out.
Key Takeaways
Mitchell Starc is the new No.1 ICC Test bowler , the first time in his 15-year career he has reached the top spot.
Starc's rise followed a 10-wicket match haul against Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay , earning him Player of the Series honours.
Jasprit Bumrah , who held the No.1 position since February 2024 , drops to second; Matt Henry falls to third.
Rishabh Pant climbed six places to equal seventh in the ICC Test Batter Rankings after a half-century in India's first Test win over Sri Lanka at Galle .
Ollie Robinson jumped 15 places to 11th and Josh Tongue climbed 16 spots to 17th in the bowler table after combining for 16 wickets at Headingley .
Ravindra Jadeja retains the No.1 all-rounder ranking, with the top of that table unchanged.
Mitchell Starc has displaced Jasprit Bumrah at the top of the ICC Test Bowler Rankings, the latest update released on Wednesday, 26 August confirmed, while Rishabh Pant surged six places to tie for seventh in the ICC Test Batter Rankings. The reshuffle follows a dramatic round of Test cricket across three continents.
Starc Reaches Career Summit
The 36-year-old left-arm pacer claimed the No.1 Test bowler ranking for the first time in his 15-year international career, vaulting two places past both Bumrah and New Zealand's Matt Henry. The trigger was his dominant display against Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay, where he bagged 10 wickets in the match and was named Player of the Series.
Bumrah, who first ascended to the top spot in February 2024 and had held the position for much of the past two years, slips to second. Henry drops to third. Notably, Starc had already moved into the top three following strong Ashes performances against England late last year, but the summit had remained elusive — until now.
Bumrah's Absence a Factor
Bumrah's unavailability for India's ongoing ICC World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka meant he could not add to his tally while Starc was racking up wickets in Australia. The combination of Starc's series-winning performance and Bumrah's inactivity proved decisive in flipping the rankings.
Among other Australian bowlers, captain Pat Cummins moved up one place to fourth after taking six wickets against Bangladesh, while spinner Nathan Lyon rose two places to 10th.
Pant's Charge Into the Top 10
Rishabh Pant was the biggest mover among batters in the top 10, climbing six places to equal seventh after a quickfire half-century in the second innings of India's victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle. KL Rahul also gained ground, rising five places to 30th.
The top four batter positions remain unchanged: England's Harry Brook and Joe Root hold first and second, while Australia's Steve Smith and Travis Head occupy third and fourth.
Robinson and Tongue Surge in Bowler Rankings
England's Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue posted the most dramatic individual climbs in the bowler rankings following their match-winning effort against Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. The pair combined for 16 wickets in the contest, with Robinson jumping 15 places to 11th and Tongue climbing 16 spots to 17th.
All-Rounder Table Unchanged at the Top
India veteran Ravindra Jadeja retains the No.1 position in the ICC Test All-Rounder Rankings, with the top of the table otherwise undisturbed. Cummins moved up one place to seventh, Cameron Green climbed one spot to equal 17th, and Robinson rose five places to 23rd in the all-rounder standings.
Outside the top 10 among batters, Green moved up nine places to 21st, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva rose two spots to equal 22nd, and Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique climbed seven places to equal 27th. With the WTC cycle intensifying, further movement across all three tables is expected in the coming weeks.
Point of View
But the more consequential story is structural: Bumrah's absence from active Test duty — however temporary — is enough to cost India the top bowling ranking. That fragility exposes how heavily India's bowling stocks depend on a single pacer. Pant's six-place jump is encouraging, but with Brook and Root entrenched at the top, India's batting depth in the WTC context remains a live question. The rankings are a snapshot, not a verdict — but right now, they reflect Australia's depth advantage across formats.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Mitchell Starc become the No.1 ICC Test bowler?
Starc claimed the top ranking after taking 10 wickets in the second Test against Bangladesh at Mackay, a performance that earned him the Player of the Series award. He climbed two places in the updated rankings released on 26 August, moving past both Jasprit Bumrah and Matt Henry.
How long had Jasprit Bumrah held the No.1 Test bowler ranking?
Bumrah first reached the No.1 position in February 2024 and held it for much of the following two years. He drops to second in the latest update, with his absence from India's ongoing WTC series against Sri Lanka a contributing factor.
Where does Rishabh Pant stand in the ICC Test Batter Rankings?
Pant rose six places to equal seventh in the latest update, following his quickfire half-century in India's first Test victory over Sri Lanka at Galle. He is now the highest-ranked Indian batter in the top 10.
Who leads the ICC Test Batter and All-Rounder Rankings?
England's Harry Brook and Joe Root hold the top two batting positions, with Australia's Steve Smith and Travis Head in third and fourth. India's Ravindra Jadeja retains the No.1 spot in the all-rounder table.
Which England bowlers made the biggest gains in the latest ICC rankings?
Ollie Robinson jumped 15 places to 11th and Josh Tongue climbed 16 spots to 17th after the pair combined for 16 wickets in England's first Test against Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds.
