South Africa's Marco Jansen has become the No.1 Test all-rounder in the ICC Men's Player Rankings released on October 28, ending Ravindra Jadeja's reign of more than four years. Jansen now holds 451 rating points, and he has also moved to the top of the Test bowling list.
Jansen Takes Over the All-Rounder Summit
Jansen moved up one place to replace Jadeja at the top of the Test all-rounder rankings. It is the first time in his career that the 26-year-old has led this list.
The jump follows his contribution to South Africa's win in the second Test of their World Test Championship series against Australia. That result levelled the three-match series at 1-1.
Jansen's ranking movement after the second Test| Category | Movement | New Position |
|---|
| Test all-rounders | Up 1 place | No.1 (451 rating points) |
| Test bowlers | Up 5 places | No.1 |
| Test batters | Up 13 places | 56th |
Moving up in all three lists in a single Test shows how balanced his contribution was. The bowling jump is the largest of the three in terms of final standing, since it took him past Australia's Mitchell Starc.
The Match Performance Behind the Rise
Jansen contributed with both bat and ball in the second Test. His 85 runs and a five-wicket haul in Australia's first innings turned the match in South Africa's favour.
Jansen's key numbers in the match| Discipline | Output |
|---|
| Batting | 85 runs |
| Bowling | 5-wicket haul in Australia's first innings |
| Series impact | Series levelled at 1-1 |
An 85 combined with a five-wicket haul is the type of two-department output that rating systems reward heavily. It also came in a match that kept the series alive, which adds context to the rating gain.
Why the Bowling Climb Matters
Overtaking Starc to reach No.1 among Test bowlers is a notable shift on its own. The five-place climb suggests his bowling form carried the larger share of his rating gain.
His 13-place rise to 56th in the batting list is a secondary signal. It shows his runs are adding measurable value, even though he is not yet a top-order name in the rankings.
Bavuma and Harmer Also Move Up
Jansen was not the only South African to gain from the win. Captain Temba Bavuma rose four places to second in the Test batting rankings after scoring 179 in the first innings and being named Player of the Match.
Only England captain Harry Brook is now ahead of Bavuma among Test batters. Spinner Simon Harmer rose 15 places to eighth among Test all-rounders.
Other South African movers in the Test rankings| Player | Category | Movement | New Position |
|---|
| Temba Bavuma | Test batters | Up 4 places | 2nd |
| Simon Harmer | Test all-rounders | Up 15 places | 8th |
A Concentrated Ranking Gain
Three South African players made significant moves from a single Test. That points to a team performance in which batting, pace bowling and spin each added measurable value.
Jadeja's Reign in Context
Ravindra Jadeja had held the top all-rounder position for more than four years. Staying at No.1 for that long in Test cricket requires consistent output across batting and bowling, not isolated performances.
Change at the top of the Test all-rounder list| Player | Country | Status |
|---|
| Marco Jansen | South Africa | New No.1 (451 rating points) |
| Ravindra Jadeja | India | Previous No.1 for over four years |
The margin of change was one place, so the swap reflects Jansen's rise as much as any decline. Jadeja's long tenure remains a useful benchmark for sustained all-round output.
What the Rankings Mean for South Africa
South Africa now has the top-ranked Test all-rounder and bowler, the second-ranked Test batter and a top-eight all-rounder in Harmer. That is a strong statistical base for a World Test Championship campaign.
Reaching No.1 is only part of the task, as holding the position requires repeated high-impact performances. Jansen's ratings will depend on whether he can repeat his bat-and-ball output in the remaining Tests of the series.
Key Takeaways
- Jansen leads the Test all-rounder rankings for the first time with 451 rating points.
- He is also the No.1 Test bowler after a five-place climb past Mitchell Starc.
- Bavuma is second among Test batters, behind only Harry Brook.
- Harmer rose 15 places to eighth among Test all-rounders.