South Africa's Marco Jansen claimed the top position in the ICC Men's Player Rankings for Test all-rounders on October 28, bringing an end to Ravindra Jadeja's reign that had stretched beyond four years. The 26-year-old moved up one place to reach rank one, accumulating 451 rating points. This marks the first occasion in Jansen's career that he has led the all-rounder list.
Jansen's ascent was driven by a decisive contribution in South Africa's second Test victory against Australia in the World Test Championship series. He scored 85 runs and claimed a five-wicket haul in Australia's first innings, influencing the match with both bat and ball. That result levelled the three-match series at 1-1, keeping the contest very much alive. Jansen earned 84 rating points from his showing in that Test, a figure that underlines just how substantial his performance was to the updated standings.
Jadeja, who had occupied the top position for more than four years in the demanding format of Test cricket, now sits second on the all-rounder list with 422 rating points. Staying at number one for that length of time through consistent contributions is a rare achievement in Test cricket, and his record deserves full recognition even as Jansen steps up to the summit. The climb up the bowling table suggests Jansen's current form is not a one-off, and the fact that he produced it in a match that kept a major series alive makes the achievement all the more significant.
How did Jansen's bowling and batting rankings change?
Jansen's impact extended well beyond the all-rounder table. He climbed five places in the Test bowling rankings to move ahead of Australia's Mitchell Starc and become the number one Test bowler in the world, gaining 45 rating points from his five-wicket haul in that category alone. The South African's rise to the top of two separate ranking lists from a single Test performance is a measure of how complete his contribution was.
In the batting rankings, Jansen gained 13 places and now sits at 56th. While that position reflects his primary role as a bowling all-rounder, the movement confirms his value to South Africa as a complete player across all three departments of the game. A cricketer who scores 85 runs and takes five wickets in the same Test is doing precisely what an all-rounder is expected to deliver, and Jansen did exactly that when it mattered most.
Which other South Africa players moved in the rankings?
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma was named Player of the Match against Australia and moved up four places to second in the Test batting rankings. Bavuma scored 179 in the first innings of that Test, and England's Harry Brook is now the only batsman ranked above him on the list.
Spinner Simon Harmer was another significant mover for South Africa, rising 15 places to reach eighth among Test all-rounders. Harmer's climb, alongside Jansen's rise to the top and Jadeja's drop to second, reflects a notable reshaping of the all-rounder rankings following the second Test result. South Africa's collective movement across the batting, bowling and all-rounder tables points to a team performing at a high level at precisely the right moment in the World Test Championship cycle.
