Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler: The Mackay Masterclass — it’s official. The title of Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler is confirmed in the governing body’s latest update. After 15 years at the top level, Australia’s left-arm quick has finally reached the summit of Test cricket, dethroning India’s Jasprit Bumrah. It took a match-winning 10-wicket haul against Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay to do it — a massive jump to 872 rating points, 10 clear of Bumrah (862) and 11 ahead of New Zealand’s Matt Henry (861).
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By securing the top rank, the 36-year-old ended Bumrah’s latest two-month stint at the summit. Starc now leads the rankings on 872 rating points, with that 10-point cushion over Bumrah (862) and 11 points over Matt Henry (861).
Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler: The Mackay Masterclass
It was sealed with one of the most dominant bowling displays of his Test career. In the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, Starc was relentless:
First Innings Destruction (6/12): Starc ripped through the Bangladeshi batting lineup, striking with his very first ball and completing a five-wicket haul in just 22 deliveries. He finished with 6 for 12 as Bangladesh were bundled out for under 100.
Second Innings Wrap-Up (4/39): He didn’t ease off in the second innings either, 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.
For the newly crowned Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler, this late-career surge to the summit is one of the great fast-bowling stories of the modern era. Starc has spent much of his career inside the top 10 and briefly touched a career-high No. 2 after last year’s Boxing Day Test.
Current ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings Top 10
With the Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler ranking now official, here is the updated top 10:
1. Mitchell Starc (Australia) — 872 rating points. The new Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler sealed it with a 10-wicket match haul vs Bangladesh (Mackay).
2. Jasprit Bumrah (India) — 862 rating points. Sidelined with a knee injury.
3. Matt Henry (New Zealand) — 861 rating points. Consistent performer across WTC cycle.
4. Pat Cummins (Australia). Moved up 1 spot after 6-wicket haul in Mackay.
5. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa). Maintains steady spot in top 5.
6. Josh Hazlewood (Australia). Solid frontline Australian pacer.
7. Scott Boland (Australia). Slipped one place in latest update.
8. Ravichandran Ashwin (India). World-class spin operator.
9. Prabath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka). Climbed key places following Galle performance.
10. Nathan Lyon (Australia). Re-entered top 10 after solid showing.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Historic Reign and Absence
With the Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler announcement, Bumrah’s drop to No. 2 closes another memorable run at the top of Test cricket’s bowling tree. He first claimed the No. 1 ranking in February 2024, after a legendary nine-wicket haul against England in Visakhapatnam — becoming the first Indian fast bowler to ever do it.
And what a reign. Bumrah has spent a cumulative 697 days as the World No. 1 Test bowler, the highest tally ever recorded by an Indian bowler and the 14th-longest total reign in Test cricket history.
He couldn’t defend his points this time, though. Bumrah missed India’s ongoing World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka after picking up a knee injury during the ODI series in England. With him on the sidelines and Starc cashing in at home against Bangladesh, the margin swung 10 points in Australia’s favour.
Broader Ranking Shifts: England Pacers & Indian Rising Stars
The latest weekly ICC update shuffled plenty more than just the Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler headline at the top of the bowling charts:
Ollie Robinson & Josh Tongue Surge: England’s seam duo made big gains after 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 also taking 8 wickets.
Manav Suthar’s Career High: India’s left-arm spinner skyrocketed 28 places to a career-best 48th after a 10-wicket performance in India’s victory over Sri Lanka in Galle.
Rishabh Pant Returns to Top 10 Batters: India’s wicketkeeper-batter jumped six places to joint 7th in the batting rankings after 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, the Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler milestone speaks volumes about his longevity, fitness, and ability to generate raw pace and swing across formats. With the World Test Championship points table tightening, Australia’s attack — Starc (1st), Cummins (4th), Lyon (10th) — remains one of the most lethal units in red-ball cricket.
But nobody’s resting easy. Bumrah is expected back once his knee rehab is complete, and the battle for the top spot in Test bowling looks set to be fiercely contested in the upcoming series.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Who is currently the No. 1 Test bowler in the world?
Australia’s Mitchell Starc — the reigning Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler on 872 rating points, per the official ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings.
Q2: How many wickets did Mitchell Starc take against Bangladesh in Mackay?
Ten in the second Test — 6/12 in the first innings and 4/39 in the second — which earned him Player of the Match.
Q3: Why did Jasprit Bumrah lose his No. 1 ICC Test bowling ranking?
A knee injury ruled him out of India’s Test series against Sri Lanka, and Starc’s 10-wicket Mackay masterclass piled on the points Bumrah couldn’t defend.
Q4: Has Mitchell Starc ever been the No. 1 Test bowler before?
Never. This is the first time in his 15-year career he’s become the Mitchell Starc ICC No 1 Test Bowler; his previous best was No. 2.
Q5: How many days has Jasprit Bumrah spent as the No. 1 Test bowler?
A combined 697 days — the most by any Indian bowler in Test 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
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