South Africa’s Marco Jansen is the new No. 1 in both the ICC Men’s Test bowling and Test all-rounder rankings, ending Ravindra Jadeja’s more than four-year reign at the top of the all-rounder list in the update released on Wednesday, October 28.
Jansen, 26, moved up one place to top the all-rounder rankings with a career-best 451 rating points, while Jadeja slipped to second with 422 points. The South African left-arm fast bowler also climbed five places to become the world’s top-ranked Test bowler with 876 points, overtaking Australia’s Mitchell Starc. He gained 13 places in the batting rankings to 56th, underlining the all-round value he now brings to the Proteas.
The Gqeberha performance behind the rise
Jansen’s rise was built on South Africa’s second-Test victory over Australia at Gqeberha in the ICC World Test Championship series. Batting at No. 8, he scored 85 runs, then took 5 for 33 as Australia were bowled out for 99 in their first innings in reply to South Africa’s 435 for 9 declared. He added one more wicket in the second innings (match figures 5/33 and 1/34) as South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs to level the three-match series 1-1.
The result kept the series alive and, with it, South Africa’s World Test Championship campaign — and it moved Jansen past a player whose grip on the all-rounder summit had lasted more than four years.
What the new rankings look like
Behind Jansen and Jadeja in the Test all-rounder rankings, Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz holds third place and South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder is fourth, with Australia’s Mitchell Starc fifth. India’s Washington Sundar is seventh, and South Africa spinner Simon Harmer climbed 15 places to eighth.
In the bowling rankings, Jansen’s jump pushed Starc, New Zealand’s Matt Henry, England’s Ollie Robinson and India’s Jasprit Bumrah each down one place, with Bumrah now fifth. South Africa captain Temba Bavuma was another big mover: his 179 in the first innings at Gqeberha lifted him four places to second in the Test batting rankings, behind only England captain Harry Brook. Australia’s Scott Boland moved up three places to sixth among bowlers.
Abhishek Sharma reclaims the T20I batting crown
The same rankings update brought good news for India in the shortest format. Opener Abhishek Sharma reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the T20I batting rankings after smashing 113 off just 38 balls against New Zealand in the third T20I in Wellington, a knock that sealed a series-clinching win for India. Abhishek moved to 897 points, displacing teammate Ishan Kishan, who had moved ahead of him in July but missed recent games through injury. Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan is second with 883 points.
Why it matters — and what could change next
Jansen’s double ascent is rare: leading both the bowling and all-rounder lists at the same time marks him out as the format’s most complete current performer. For South Africa, it caps a comeback win that revived their series against Australia; for Jadeja, the end of a reign that survived more than four years of Test cricket is a measure of how consistently he had to perform to stay there.
One caution: rankings move fast during a series. The third Test between South Africa and Australia is already under way, and strong performances there — Starc has already taken a six-wicket haul in it, according to ESPNcricinfo — could shuffle the top of the bowling list again in the next update.
FAQ
Who is the No. 1 Test all-rounder now? South Africa’s Marco Jansen, with 451 rating points, ahead of Ravindra Jadeja on 422.
Who is the No. 1 Test bowler? Marco Jansen, with 876 points, ahead of Mitchell Starc.
How did Jansen reach the top? Through his all-round display in South Africa’s second-Test win over Australia at Gqeberha: 85 runs and match figures of 5/33 and 1/34.
Who leads the T20I batting rankings? India’s Abhishek Sharma, with 897 points, after his 113 off 38 balls against New Zealand in Wellington.
Sources
- ESPNcricinfo — ICC rankings: Marco Jansen becomes top Test bowler, Abhishek Sharma is No. 1 T20I batter: https://www.cricinfo.com/story/icc-rankings-marco-jansen-becomes-top-test-bowler-and-abhishek-takes-back-crown-for-t20i-batters-1560404
- NDTV Sports — Marco Jansen reaches 100 Test wickets, dethrones Ravindra Jadeja as ICC’s No. 1 all-rounder: https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/marco-jansen-reaches-100-test-wickets-dethrones-ravindra-jadeja-as-iccs-no-1-all-rounder-12250227
- CricTracker — Marco Jansen ends Ravindra Jadeja’s four-year reign: https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/ravindra-jadeja-loses-top-spot-in-icc-test-all-rounder-rankings-after-four-years-3661/
- ABP Live — Ravindra Jadeja dethroned: https://news.abplive.com/sports/cricket/ravindra-jadeja-dethroned-marco-jansen-ends-india-all-rounder-four-year-icc-rankings-reign-1873605/amp
