Mitchell Starc dethrones Marco Jansen to return to top of ICC Test bowling rankings

Mitchell Starc has returned to the top of the ICC Men's Test Bowling Rankings. The Australian pacer displaced South Africa's Marco Jansen after taking nine wickets in the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

Mitchell Starc had first reached No.1 in August when he ended Jasprit Bumrah's reign. Jansen took the mantle after six wickets in the second Test for South Africa in Gqeberha, according to the ICC. Jansen managed only three scalps in Cape Town, six fewer than Starc, which allowed the Australian to reclaim pole position and set a new career-best ranking.

South Africa's Simon Harmer moved up nine places to seventh overall in the rankings for Test bowlers after his Player of the Match performance at Newlands. Harmer bowled the Proteas to victory and a series triumph with six wickets in Australia's second innings. He is one spot ahead of South Africa teammate Kagiso Rabada.

Australia will be buoyed by gains made on the rankings for Test batters by Cameron Green (up three places to equal 19th) and Alex Carey (up two rungs to equal 19th). West Indies' right-hander Justin Greaves (up 12 spots to equal 38th and a new career-high rating) is the big mover following his side's victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Mirpur.

Mitchell Aaron Starc is an Australian international cricketer who plays for the Australian national team and New South Wales in domestic cricket. A left-arm fast bowler and a lower order left-handed batsman. Marco Jansen is a South African professional cricketer who bowls left-arm fast and bats right-handed. He plays internationally for South Africa.

Key ranking movements

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Sources

• Hindustan Times

• Sportstar

• Photo: EGilham, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)