Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler: The Mackay Masterclass The title of Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler is now officially confirmed by the governing body’s latest update. Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc has reached the pinnacle of Test cricket for the first time in his 15-year career, officially dethroning India’s Jasprit Bumrah. Starcβs ascent to the top of the world rankings comes after a match-winning 10-wicket haul against Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay. Securing the Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler milestone required a massive jump to 872 rating points, giving him a 10-point advantage over Bumrah (862) and 11 points over New Zealandβs Matt Henry (861).
By securing the top rank, the 36-year-old veteran dislodged India’s premier speedster Jasprit Bumrah, ending his latest two-month stint at the summit. Starc now leads the rankings with 872 rating points, holding a 10-point advantage over Bumrah (862) and 11 points over New Zealandβs Matt Henry (861).
Mackay Masterclass: How Mitchell Starc Scaled the Summit
Starcβs rise to the top was sealed through one of the most dominant individual bowling displays of his Test career. In the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, Starc delivered a relentless exhibition of fast bowling:
First Innings Destruction (6/12): Starc ripped through the Bangladeshi batting lineup, taking a wicket with his very first ball and completing a devastating five-wicket haul in just 22 deliveries. He finished with staggering figures of 6 for 12, helping bundle Bangladesh out for under 100 runs.
Second Innings Wrap-Up (4/39): He maintained his intensity in the second innings, snaring four key wickets to finish with match figures of 10 for 51.
Series Dominance: With 12 wickets across the two-Test series, Starc was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
Having spent much of his career inside the top 10 and briefly reaching a career-high of No. 2 following last yearβs Boxing Day Test, Starcβs late-career surge marks a dramatic milestone in modern fast-bowling history.
Current ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings Top 10
| Rank | Player | Nation | Rating Points | Recent Form / Key Highlight |
| 1 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 872 | 10-wicket match haul vs Bangladesh (Mackay) |
| 2 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | 862 | Sidelined with a knee injury |
| 3 | Matt Henry | New Zealand | 861 | Consistent performer across WTC cycle |
| 4 | Pat Cummins | Australia | β | Moved up 1 spot after 6-wicket haul in Mackay |
| 5 | Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | β | Maintains steady spot in top 5 |
| 6 | Josh Hazlewood | Australia | β | Solid frontline Australian pacer |
| 7 | Scott Boland | Australia | β | Slipped one place in latest update |
| 8 | Ravichandran Ashwin | India | β | World-class spin operator |
| 9 | Prabath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | β | Climbed key places following Galle performance |
| 10 | Nathan Lyon | Australia | β | Re-entered top 10 after solid showing |
Jasprit Bumrahβs Historic Reign and Absence
Jasprit Bumrahβs drop to the No. 2 spot ends another memorable run at the top of Test cricketβs bowling tree. Bumrah first claimed the No. 1 ranking in February 2024 following a legendary nine-wicket haul against England in Visakhapatnam, becoming the first Indian fast bowler to achieve the feat.
Across his career, Bumrah has spent a cumulative 697 days as the World No. 1 Test bowlerβthe highest tally ever recorded by an Indian bowler and the 14th-longest total reign in Test cricket history.
Bumrah was unable to defend his ranking points during Indiaβs ongoing World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka after sustaining a knee injury during the ODI series in England. With Bumrah on the sidelines and Starc capitalizing on home conditions against Bangladesh, the margin swung by 10 points in Australia’s favor.
Broader Ranking Shifts: England Pacers & Indian Rising Stars
The latest weekly update from the ICC brought significant movements across both bowling and batting charts:
Ollie Robinson & Josh Tongue Surge: England’s seam duo enjoyed major gains following their match-winning display against Pakistan at Headingley. Robinson grabbed 8 wickets in the match to leap 15 spots to 11th overall, while Tongue climbed 16 places to 17th after taking 8 wickets.
Manav Sutharβs Career High: Indian left-arm spinner Manav Suthar skyrocketed 28 places to a career-best 48th position following a 10-wicket performance in India’s victory over Sri Lanka in Galle.
Rishabh Pant Returns to Top 10 Batters: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant jumped six places to joint 7th in the batting rankings after scoring a crucial second-innings half-century against Sri Lanka.
Harry Brook Extends Batting Lead: England’s Harry Brook doubled his lead at the top of the Test Batting Rankings to 24 points over teammate Joe Root after scoring 90 in Leeds.
Ravindra Jadeja Retains All-Rounder Top Spot: India’s Ravindra Jadeja remains the undisputed No. 1 Test all-rounder in the world.
Looking Ahead: The Battle for Test Supremacy
At 36 years of age, Mitchell Starc joining the elite club of World No. 1 Test bowlers stands as a testament to his longevity, fitness, and ability to generate raw pace and swing across formats. With the World Test Championship points table tightening up, Australiaβs bowling attackβboasting Starc (1st), Cummins (4th), and Lyon (10th)βremains one of the most lethal units in red-ball cricket.
However, with Jasprit Bumrah expected to return once fully fit from his knee rehab, the battle for the top spot in Test bowling promises to be intensely contested in the upcoming Test series.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Who is currently the No. 1 Test bowler in the world?
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc is currently ranked No. 1 in the official ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings with 872 rating points.
Q2: How many wickets did Mitchell Starc take against Bangladesh in Mackay?
Starc claimed 10 wickets in the second Test at Mackay (6/12 in the first innings and 4/39 in the second innings), earning Player of the Match honors.
Q3: Why did Jasprit Bumrah lose his No. 1 ICC Test bowling ranking?
Jasprit Bumrah slipped to No. 2 after missing India’s Test series against Sri Lanka due to a knee injury, combined with Mitchell Starc’s 10-wicket performance against Bangladesh.
Q4: Has Mitchell Starc ever been the No. 1 Test bowler before?
No. This is the first time in Mitchell Starc’s 15-year career that he has reached the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings. His previous career-best ranking was No. 2.
Q5: How many days has Jasprit Bumrah spent as the No. 1 Test bowler?
Jasprit Bumrah has spent a total of 697 combined days as the No. 1 Test bowler, which is the most by any Indian bowler in Test cricket history.
Trusted Official Sources & Media Reports
ICC Official Release: ICC Men’s Test Rankings Updates
Hindustan Times: Jasprit Bumrah loses No.1 spot: Mitchell Starc rises to ICC top spot
Economic Times: Mitchell Starc dethrones Jasprit Bumrah in ICC Test Rankings
Outlook India: Mitchell Starc becomes World No. 1 Test Bowler