From Jadeja’s Shadow to No.1: How Marco Jansen Became Test Cricket’s New All-Round King
A changing of the guard is underway in the ICC rankings. While Abhishek Sharma has reclaimed the No.1 spot among T20I batters after his explosive century against New Zealand, South Africa’s Marco Jansen has made an even bigger statement in the longest format. The 26-year-old has become the No.1 Test bowler and all-rounder, ending Ravindra Jadeja’s more than four-year reign at the top of the Test all-rounder rankings.
Xtratime Webdesk: A change of the guard is underway in the ICC rankings. While Abhishek Sharma has reclaimed the No.1 spot among T20I batters after his explosive century against New Zealand, South Africa’s Marco Jansen has made an even bigger statement in the longest format. The 26-year-old has become the No.1 Test bowler and all-rounder, ending Ravindra Jadeja’s more than four-year reign at the top of the Test all-rounder rankings.
Jansen’s rise has been built on much more than his ability to trouble batters with his left-arm pace. His performance in the second Test of the ongoing series against Australia at Gqeberha showed how his batting has developed into an equally important part of his game.
The towering South African scored a crucial 85 after his team slipped to 110/6, sharing a 132-run partnership with captain Temba Bavuma. He then returned with the ball to produce a match-defining five-wicket haul as Australia were bowled out for just 99 in their first innings. South Africa eventually won by an innings and 31 runs, levelling the three-match series 1-1.
That double impact has transformed Jansen’s value. His left-arm pace provides South Africa with something different, while his ability to score important runs gives the side greater depth in batting. He has now climbed to 56th in the Test batting rankings, moved past Mitchell Starc to become the No.1 Test bowler and reached the summit of the all-rounder rankings with 451 rating points.
For Jadeja, the latest update marks the end of an extraordinary run at the top. But for Jansen, it represents the beginning of a new chapter. He is no longer simply a promising fast bowler who can bat; he is developing into a complete Test cricketer capable of influencing matches in both departments.
The next challenge will be sustaining that level. With South Africa and Australia heading towards a series decider, Jansen has an immediate opportunity to show that his No.1 ranking is not merely the reward for one outstanding performance, but a reflection of his growing stature as one of the game's premier all-rounders.
