Marco Jansen has moved to No. 1 in both the ICC Men’s Test bowling and all-rounder rankings after South Africa’s innings-and-31-run victory over Australia in the second match of their World Test Championship series. His performance — an 85-run innings followed by figures of five for 33 and one for 34 — also lifted him 13 places to 56th among Test batters, the ICC said.
The rise gives South Africa its first top-ranked Test bowler since Kagiso Rabada held the position in November 2024. Jansen is also the country’s first No. 1 Test all-rounder since Vernon Philander reached the summit in August 2014, according to the ICC’s latest rankings update.
Jansen’s match-winning numbers
Jansen’s contribution came across every phase of the match. His 85 strengthened South Africa’s position with the bat, while his six wickets across Australia’s two innings helped secure a decisive result in the series.
The 31-run victory over Australia provided the immediate ranking boost, with the ICC crediting Jansen’s combined batting and bowling display for his advance in all three Test lists. The rankings reflect performances from the latest match rather than a single discipline alone.
"Jansen’s rise reflects the value of producing decisive performances with both bat and ball at Test level."
South Africa’s wider gains
Captain Temba Bavuma also made a major move after scoring 179 in the match. He climbed four places to a career-best second in the Test batting rankings and now trails England’s Harry Brook.
Bavuma could become the first South African to lead the Test batting rankings since A.B. de Villiers did so in November 2015. The ICC said he is now within reach of the top position, although Brook remains ahead of him in the latest standings.
Australia fast bowler Scott Boland rose three places to sixth after taking five wickets for 81 runs. South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder climbed 10 places to 43rd among Test bowlers after claiming five wickets across the two innings.
Ranking movements beyond the Test series
The ICC update also returned India opener Abhishek Sharma to No. 1 in the Men’s T20I batting rankings. His 35-ball century against New Zealand in Wellington pushed him back to the top, while team-mate Ishan Kishan dropped to third after holding the position for four months.
Abhishek’s latest spell at No. 1 follows his previous stay from July 2025 to June this year, the ICC said. Sanju Samson moved six places to 20th, Finn Allen rose three places to 25th and Glenn Phillips climbed 20 places to 37th in the T20I batting rankings.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner advanced seven places to seventh among T20I bowlers. India’s Arshdeep Singh moved six places to 15th, while Prince Yadav gained 19 places to reach 83rd.
What the rankings mean next
For Jansen, the immediate test will be whether he can maintain the level that produced his rapid rise across the Test lists. The ICC rankings will continue to change as the World Test Championship series progresses and new performances are added.
Bavuma’s second-place ranking gives South Africa another route to the top of the batting standings. Jansen and Bavuma now occupy leading positions across two key Test categories, strengthening the team’s individual presence ahead of the next results in the championship cycle.
| Key Metric / Entity | Verified Detail | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Marco Jansen | No. 1 Test bowler and all-rounder | Establishes South Africa’s leading presence in two disciplines |
| Jansen’s match | 85 runs; bowling figures of 5/33 and 1/34 | Powered South Africa’s innings-and-31-run win over Australia |
| Temba Bavuma | Career-best No. 2 Test batter after scoring 179 | Puts him within reach of the top batting position |
| Abhishek Sharma | Returned to No. 1 in T20I batting after a 35-ball century | Restores India’s opener to the summit of the format’s rankings |
| Scott Boland | Rose three places to sixth among Test bowlers | Rewards a five-wicket match performance for Australia |
