Star Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc jumped one place to become the new world No. 2 Test bowler in the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday (December 31). The left-arm pacer who dismissed four
English batters across two innings in the Boxing Day Test played at Melbourne Cricket Ground has 843 rating points to his credit.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah is the world’s No. 1 Test bowler. The 32-year-old fast bowler from Ahmedabad has 879 rating points. He is unlikely to lose his No. 1 position in the coming months.
Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins, who didn’t feature in the Boxing Day Test, has dropped two places. He is in 4th place now, but his countryman Scott Boland has gained two places to become the world’s No. 7 Test bowler.
England’s Gus Atkinson has also gained four places to become the world’s No. 12 Test bowler, whereas Brydon Carse has gained six places to take 23rd position. Fast bowler Josh Tongue dismissed five Australian batters in the first innings of the fourth Ashes Test played at MCG and also bagged the Player Of The Match (POTM) award. He is ranked 30th now after jumping 13 spots.
In the ICC Test batter’s rankings, Harry Brook has jumped three places to become the world’s No. 2 Test batter, but Australia’s Steve Smith has dropped two places. He is in 5th position now.
Smith’s Aussie teammate Alex Carey has also dropped four spots after failing to deliver with the bat in both innings of the fourth Ashes Test.
Carey’s loss, however, is a gain for India’s Test captain, Shubman Gill. Gill, who finished the calendar year 2025 as the highest run getter, has gained one place, and he is now in 10th spot.
