Starc dethrones Bumrah to become world’s No. 1 Test bowler

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has climbed to the top of the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings for the first time in his career, displacing India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah following a dominant performance against Bangladesh.

The 36-year-old left-arm pacer jumped two places after claiming a 10-wicket match haul in Australia’s innings-and-51-run victory over Bangladesh in the second Test in Mackay. Starc now has a career-best 872 rating points, 10 ahead of Bumrah, who has slipped to second with 862. New Zealand’s Matt Henry is third with 861 points.

Starc hits career high

Starc produced a devastating spell in Mackay, taking six wickets for just 12 runs in Bangladesh’s first innings before returning figures of four for 39 in the second. His match haul of 10 for 51 helped Australia complete the victory inside two days and level the two-match Test series 1-1.

The performance earned Starc both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. He finished the series with 12 wickets at an average of 12.08.

Starc’s previous best position in the ICC Test bowling rankings was second, which he first achieved following the Boxing Day Test last year. His rise to No. 1 comes after more than a decade at the highest level of international cricket.

The Australian also moved into the top 10 among the leading wicket-takers in Test history during the Bangladesh series, taking his career tally to 445 wickets.

Bumrah slips to second

Bumrah’s latest stint at the top of the rankings lasted about two months. The Indian fast bowler has, however, spent a combined 697 days as the world’s No. 1 Test bowler — the longest by an Indian bowler and the 14th-longest overall.

The 32-year-old has been absent from India’s ongoing World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka, allowing Starc’s strong showing against Bangladesh to propel the Australian past him.

Elsewhere in the bowling rankings, Australia captain Pat Cummins occupies fourth place, while South Africa’s Marco Jansen is fifth. Scott Boland is seventh, Josh Hazlewood ninth and Nathan Lyon has moved up two positions to 10th, giving Australia five bowlers in the top 10.

England’s Ollie Robinson also made a significant jump, climbing 15 places to 11th after taking eight wickets in his side’s innings-and-103-run victory over Pakistan at Headingley. India spinner Manav Suthar rose 28 places to a career-best 48th following his 10-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in Galle.