South African all-rounder Marco Jansen achieved a monumental milestone during the third Test against Australia in Cape Town by claiming his 100th wicket in Test cricket. The left-arm pacer entered the match needing just one scalp to reach the landmark and secured it by dismissing Matt Renshaw in the 50th over of Australia’s first innings, subsequently removing Cameron Green in his very next over.
Alongside his bowling milestone, Jansen displaced India stalwart Ravindra Jadeja at the summit of the ICC Test rankings to become the world’s top-ranked Test all-rounder. The 26-year-old also moved past Australia’s Mitchell Starc to claim the No. 1 position among Test bowlers, capping off a stellar run of form across all three disciplines.
Milestone Details and Rankings Surge
- Marco Jansen became the 18th South African bowler to reach the 100-wicket milestone in Test cricket.
- He accomplished the feat in his 24th Test match, tying with Peter Pollock as the joint-fourth fastest South African to reach the mark.
- Jansen climbed to the No. 1 position in both the Test bowling and Test all-rounder rankings, ending Ravindra Jadeja’s multi-year reign at the top.
- The left-arm quick reached 100 Test wickets in just 3,864 deliveries, making him the third-fastest bowler in the post-war era to achieve the feat.
Context and Impact on the Series
This achievement highlights Jansen’s incredible growth into one of the most lethal seam-bowling all-rounders in international cricket. His recent performances have drawn high praise from former greats like Dale Steyn, who recently labeled him among the finest cricketers globally. Jansen’s contributions with both bat and ball have been instrumental for South Africa in their ongoing series against Australia.
In the ongoing encounter at Cape Town, South Africa posted a competitive total of 329 in their first innings. As Australia fought to bridge the gap on Day 2, Jansen’s early breakthroughs kept the pressure firmly on the visitors. With his current rating points soaring to 876 in bowling and establishing dominance in the all-rounder category, Jansen firmly anchors himself as a pillar of the South African setup moving forward.
Keep browsing Sporting Avenue to get more interesting news from the world of sports. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get the notifications instantly.
