Test cricket has been very busy in recent days. India and Sri Lanka have played in Galle, England have faced Pakistan at Headingley, and Australia and Bangladesh have finished their Test series in Mackay. With so many Test matches happening at the same time, the latest ICC Test rankings have given fans plenty to discuss. The biggest news is Mitchell Starc.

The Australian left-arm fast bowler has moved past India’s Jasprit Bumrah to become the No. 1 Test bowler in the world for the first time in his career. His excellent performance against Bangladesh has taken his rating to 872, giving him a 10-point lead over Bumrah.

Starc’s rise is more than just a change in the rankings. It shows how well he has maintained his level over the years and how dangerous he remains at 36-plus.

Mitchell Starc Finally Reaches No. 1

Starc played a key role in Australia’s win in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay. He took 6 for 12 in the first innings and 4 for 39 in the second.

Taking ten wickets in a Test is a great achievement for any bowler. Starc made it even more impressive with his pace and attacking bowling.

Australia won the match by an innings and 51 runs and levelled the series. Starc was the main reason behind the big win.

He has now reached the biggest ranking achievement of his Test career.

Starc leads the rankings with 872 rating points. Bumrah is second with 862 points, while New Zealand’s Matt Henry is third with 861 points.

Starc’s achievement is even more special because of his age. At 36-plus, fast bowlers often lose some pace or need to reduce their workload. Many also depend more on experience than physical strength.

Starc has continued to perform at a high level.

His pace remains one of his biggest strengths. He can also move the ball with the new ball. His left-arm angle gives batters a different challenge from most top right-arm fast bowlers.

His long career has also required a lot of hard work.

Starc has made important sacrifices to keep Test cricket as a major part of his career. He has often chosen Australia’s Test commitments over other opportunities, including stepping away from the IPL.

This can mean giving up a lot of money, which is not an easy decision for most modern cricketers.

But Starc has continued to put Test cricket first.

Now, the No. 1 ranking gives him another reward for that commitment.

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ICC Test Bowling Rankings: Mitchell Starc Takes the Crown

The updated bowling rankings include many familiar names. Australia’s bowling strength is especially impressive. Four Australian bowlers are in the top 10, while five Australian bowlers are in the top 11.

Starc’s move to No. 1 has pushed Bumrah down to second. However, Bumrah is still one of the best bowlers in the world.

Matt Henry is only one rating point behind Bumrah. This makes the fight for the top spot very close.

Cummins is fourth with 841 points. Marco Jansen is fifth, while Kagiso Rabada is sixth.

Scott Boland is another Australian bowler who has done very well. He is No. 7 with 804 points. This is only 16 points below his career-best rating of 820.

Nathan Lyon has also entered the top 10. He now sits at No. 10.

The rankings also show how recent Test performances can change the table. Ollie Robinson has moved up 15 places to No. 11, while Josh Tongue has climbed 16 places to No. 17 after strong performances for England against Pakistan.

Check ICC Team Rankings HERE

Test Batting Rankings: Root Still Leads the Way

The batting rankings are also very competitive.

Joe Root remains the No. 1 Test batter with 880 rating points. Harry Brook is second, while Australia’s Travis Head is third.

England have two batters in the top two spots, with Root and Brook leading the table. Australia also have two batters in the top four, with Head third and Steve Smith fourth.

India have two players in the top 10. Yashasvi Jaiswal is eighth, while Shubman Gill is tenth.

The top of the table is very close. Brook, Head and Smith are separated by only 26 rating points. This means a few big innings can quickly change their positions.

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Test All-Rounders: Jadeja Continues to Lead

India’s Ravindra Jadeja remains at the top of the all-rounders’ rankings. He has a good lead over the other players.

Marco Jansen is second. Ben Stokes and Mehidy Hasan Miraz share third place.

Starc is also fifth in the all-rounders’ rankings, just ahead of Pat Cummins. This shows that Starc offers value in more than one area, although his biggest strength is still his bowling.

Jadeja’s lead is particularly significant: his 455 rating is more than 100 points ahead of Jansen in second.

You can check regular updates on the ICC Players Rankings HERE.

Test Team Rankings: Australia Remain No. 1

The individual rankings underline Australia’s depth, and the team rankings tell the same story.

Australia remain the No. 1 Test team, with a rating of 126. Their latest win over Bangladesh has come at a time when they already possessed a strong position at the top.

South Africa are second on 119, followed by New Zealand on 106 and India on 104.

Australia’s strong position comes from its excellent bowling attack. Starc, Cummins, Boland, Hazlewood and Lyon all rank highly.

This bowling depth is one of the main reasons Australia remain one of the strongest teams in Test cricket.

Conclusion: Starc’s No. 1 Moment Is More Than a Ranking

Mitchell Starc reaching the top of the Test bowling rankings is a big achievement. It has taken years of hard work.

At an age when many fast bowlers start to lose pace and face more fitness problems, Starc is still producing match-winning spells.

His choice to focus on Test cricket, give up some big-money opportunities and stay fit has helped him continue at the highest level.

Now, he also has the No. 1 ranking to show for it.

What do you think? Can Mitchell Starc stay No. 1 and finish his career as the greatest left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket? Let us know in the comments.

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