Marco Jansen has reached No. 1 in both the men’s Test bowling and Test all-rounder rankings for the first time, completing a rare double at the top of two demanding lists. The South African left-arm fast bowler moved past Mitchell Starc in the bowling table and ended Ravindra Jadeja’s reign of more than four years as the leading Test all-rounder. In the same rankings update, Abhishek Sharma reclaimed the No. 1 position among men’s T20I batters.
Marco Jansen’s ICC rankings double rewards two disciplines
The all-rounder ranking measures the combined value of batting and bowling, so reaching No. 1 while also leading the specialist bowling list is especially significant. Jansen’s height, left-arm angle and ability to create bounce give him a distinctive threat with the ball. His batting adds lower-order depth and changes how opponents plan the final wickets. The double ranking reflects sustained influence rather than a single headline performance.
Passing Starc in the bowling standings places Jansen above one of the most accomplished fast bowlers of the era. Ending Jadeja’s long run as the top all-rounder is another measure of the achievement. Jadeja’s balance of control, wickets, runs and fielding made that position unusually stable. Jansen has now accumulated enough ratings value in both disciplines to break that continuity.
Rankings show form, not a permanent verdict
Player rankings are updated as new matches enter the calculation and older performances lose weight. They are useful because they compare output across opponents and conditions, but they do not settle every debate about the world’s best player. Workload, home advantage, match context and team roles still matter. Jansen’s top positions should be read as recognition of his current body of performance, with future series capable of changing the order.
For South Africa, the ranking carries strategic importance. A fast bowler who can also contribute meaningful runs gives the team flexibility in selection and allows a longer bowling attack without sacrificing as much batting depth. Jansen’s presence can alter both innings: he can attack with the new or older ball and then extend a total after the specialist batters are dismissed.
Abhishek Sharma returns to the top of T20I batting
Abhishek Sharma’s return to No. 1 in the T20I batting list highlights a different form of impact. Short-format rankings reward repeated scoring at high pressure and against changing attacks. Reclaiming the position shows that his recent output has restored the ratings advantage needed to lead the table. It also reinforces his importance at the top of India’s batting order.
The next Test series will immediately challenge the lead
A No. 1 ranking creates a new kind of attention. Opponents will prepare specifically for Jansen’s release point, short-ball patterns and lower-order batting zones. Captains may use him in longer spells or hold him for matchups, while South Africa must protect him from excessive workload across formats. Remaining at the top will require adaptation because the ratings gap can narrow after only a few matches.
Jansen’s achievement also shows the continuing value of a genuine seam-bowling all-rounder in Test cricket. Such players allow teams to select five wicket-taking options while retaining batting resilience. That balance becomes especially important away from home, where conditions may demand different combinations across a series and a long tail can decide close matches.
The ranking should also be separated from team position. An individual can lead a table even when schedules, injuries or collective results vary. South Africa will want the milestone to translate into series wins, not remain a statistical distinction. Jansen’s challenge is to keep producing decisive spells and useful runs while opponents build increasingly detailed plans for him.
Ratings points are earned through match performance rather than reputation, which makes the double a useful record of recent output. They still require context: a bowler’s opportunities depend on surfaces, innings length and teammates creating pressure. Jansen has converted those opportunities often enough to lead two lists at once, a combination that deserves attention precisely because the two disciplines place different demands on preparation and recovery.
The combined update captures cricket’s contrasting demands. Jansen’s rise is built on the accumulation of Test influence across long spells and two disciplines, while Abhishek’s position reflects the compressed decision-making of T20 cricket. Rankings will move again, but this edition marks a clear career landmark for Jansen: for the first time, no men’s Test bowler or all-rounder sits above him.
PUBLISHED BY SUYASH PACHAURI, FOUNDER & OWNER, GLOBAL BOLLYWOOD | THE HOLLYWOOD SCOPE.