Mitchell Starc has reached the top of the ICC men’s Test bowling rankings for the first time in his career after a match-winning performance against Bangladesh. He moved up two places in the latest rankings update released on Wednesday going past India’s Jasprit Bumrah who dropped to second. New Zealand’s Matt Henry has slipped to third. The Australian left-arm quick claimed 10 wickets in the second Test in Mackay, returning figures of 6 for 12 and 4 for 39. His spell helped Australia secure an innings-and-51-run victory, levelling the two-match series 1-1. Starc was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his work against Bangladesh

The 36-year-old has been consistently in the top 10 rankings and recently entered the top three, but the No. 1 spot had eluded him across 15 years in Test cricket. His previous best was second. He has finally achieved the top spot after his performance against Bangladesh. Australia captain Pat Cummins also went up one place to fourth after taking six wickets in the match, while spinner Nathan Lyon jumped two spots to enter the top 10. Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah had held the top ranking for much of the past two years after first reaching it in February 2024. He is currently sidelined with injury and missing India’s series against Sri Lanka. England’s Ollie Robinson jumped 15 places to 11th after taking eight wickets in the win over Pakistan at Headingley.

Mitchell Starc continues remarkable form after Ashes heroics

Australia suffered a nine-wicket defeat in the opening Test in Darwin which was one of the bigger upsets in recent years. The hosts responded strongly in the second Test at Mackay. Mitch Starc ran through the visitors with a devastating new-ball spell that reduced Bangladesh to 12 for 5 on the first morning, finishing with 6 for 12 as they were bowled out for 64. He followed up with 4 for 39 in the second innings as Bangladesh managed only 95, sealing a two-day victory by an innings and 51 runs. Across the series he picked up 12 wickets at an average of just 12.08 and was named Player of the Series.

In the 2025-26 Ashes, Starc had produced one of the finest series of his career. With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood missing for most of the series, the left-armer carried the attack and finished with 31 wickets at 19.93. He won Player of the Match awards in the first two Tests, including a career-best 7 for 58 in Perth and claimed the Compton-Miller Medal as Player of the Series. Australia won the five-match series 4-1. He has backed up that performance and has risen to the top of the Test rankings.