Dale Steyn explains why Marco Jansen, not Harry Brook, is the ‘best cricketer right now’

A debate over who deserves the title of current best cricketer in the world surfaced on X on October 21 2026, when two prominent voices offered competing assessments within 24 hours of each other. Former England captain Nasser Hussain had named Harry Brook as the best cricketer in the world, and South Africa fast-bowling great Dale Steyn responded the following day by backing South Africa all-rounder Marco Jansen for the same distinction.

Steyn posted on X from his account @DaleSteyn62: “Marco Jansen is currently the best cricketer in the world.” The post came during the second Test between South Africa and Australia at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, an ICC World Test Championship fixture.

Jansen’s all-round display at St George’s Park

A fan on X captured the contrast directly, writing: “Yesterday – Nasser Hussain called Harry Brook the best cricketer right now. Today – Dale Steyn called Marco Jansen the best cricketer right now. – WHO DESERVES THE TITLE?”

Steyn replied to that post with three words: “Harry don’t bowl.” The reply pointed to the distinction between Brook, a specialist right-handed batter who does not bowl regularly, and Jansen, a genuine bowling all-rounder who takes the new ball for South Africa and bats in the lower middle order.

Jansen’s performance in the second Test provided the immediate backdrop for Steyn’s assessment. The left-arm fast bowler, who stands 6 ft 8 in tall, scored 85 runs with the bat and then claimed five wickets in Australia’s first innings, finishing with figures of 5/33 as Australia were bowled out for 99 inside 43 overs. He also held an excellent running catch during the same innings. South Africa’s lead at that point stood at 326, and Australia were forced to follow on. The 5/33 was the fifth five-wicket haul of Jansen’s Test career, bringing his total Test wickets to 98.

Steyn’s reasoning and Jansen’s ranking

Jansen made his Test debut on December 26 2021 against India and was born on May 1 2000 in Klerksdorp, North West, South Africa. At the time of the second Test, only India’s Ravindra Jadeja ranked above Jansen in the ICC Men’s Test All-Rounder Rankings.

Steyn’s admiration for Jansen is not new. He has previously described Jansen as a player worth ₹10 crore in the Indian Premier League and has worked alongside him at Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Steyn has also said on a prior occasion that Jansen had not yet come close to realising his full potential, making his current endorsement a notable shift in framing.

Also Read: I’m going to come back again and again, says Marco Jansen after star turn in Gqeberha

Steyn’s three-word reply made clear that his argument rested on all-round contribution across batting and bowling, a criterion on which Jansen’s display at St George’s Park gave him a direct case.