Mitchell Starc is leading Australia’s bowling attack in the ongoing 2025-26 Ashes series against England. In the two matches played so far, he has dismissed 18 batters. The legendary left-arm pacer kicked off the series in Perth last month by dismissing seven opposition batters in an innings for the first time in his career and completed the 10-wicket haul by getting rid of three English batters in the second innings to set up an 8-wicket win for the Baggy Greens. In the second Test, which was a day-night affair in Brisbane, Starc picked up six wickets in the first innings and settled for two wickets in the second.
The 18 wickets in the first two Test matches of the Ashes series helped Starc achieve the career-best third position in the ICC Test bowler’s
rankings. He has 852 rating points to his credit. Starc, who holds the record of taking the most wickets in Tests by a left-arm pacer, previously never managed to enter the top-3 Test bowlers’ ranking.
If Starc manages to maintain his red-hot form in the next three matches as well, then he will have a chance to dethrone Jasprit Bumrah from the No. 1 position. As of now, Bumrah has 879 rating points to his credit. But Bumrah, unlike Starc, will not play a Test match until August 2026.
In the latest ICC Test bowler’s rankings released on Wednesday, apart from Starc, West Indies pacer Kemar Roach also jumped five places. He is now in 18th position. In the first Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch last week, 37-year-old Roach picked up a five-wicket haul in the second innings.
Brooks drops to 4th
In the ICC Test batter’s rankings, England’s Harry Brook dropped two places. He is now 4th in the rankings. England’s Joe Root, who scored his maiden Test century in Australia last week, continues to top the rankings and is followed by Kane Williamson and Steve Smith. Australia’s Travis Head has also dropped two places after failing to cross the 50-run mark in both innings of the day-night Test at The Gabba.
