Mitchell Starc has overtaken Jasprit Bumrah as the top-ranked Test bowler in the world on the International Cricket Council’s charts. The Australian paceman’s match-winning effort in Mackay, where he claimed 10 wickets to help his side crush Bangladesh inside two days, was rewarded with the number one position on the rankings, which use a points system based on recent performances.
It is the first time the left-armer has ever reached the summit of the Test bowling list. He was named player of both the match and the series after taking 6 for 12 and 4 for 39 in the second Test. India’s Bumrah had held the top spot for the previous two months before being displaced.
The milestone added to a period of sustained success for the veteran. Starc now sits 10th on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers with 445 dismissals, having moved past South Africa’s Dale Steyn, who finished with 439, during his haul in Mackay.
Speaking before the two-Test series, the 36-year-old said a clearer head and an ability to let go of setbacks had been behind his form at an age when most fast bowlers begin to slow down. He reflected that a player is never as good or as bad as others might think, and that moving on quickly from both good and bad days had become a feature of the team’s approach.
He credited the environment built by coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins for encouraging that mindset. After 16 years in the game, he added, longevity comes from a continued willingness to develop, learn and improve. Starc’s next assignment will come during Australia’s tour of South Africa, which begins in October.
