Overview
- Steyn posted on X on Wednesday that “Marco Jansen is currently the best cricketer in the world” and replied to a fan comparing players with the three words “Harry don’t bowl.”
- The remark followed a separate claim within 24 hours by former England captain Nasser Hussain that Harry Brook is the best cricketer right now, creating a direct public contrast between two respected voices.
- Jansen’s claim to the label rested on a match-defining all‑round display at St George’s Park where he scored 85 and then took 5/33 as Australia were bowled out for 99, a performance that helped South Africa enforce the follow‑on and win the Test.
- Statistical context cuts both ways: Jansen sits near the top of the ICC Test all‑rounder list with only Ravindra Jadeja ahead, while Brook has spent much of the past two years at or near the top of the ICC Test batting rankings.
- Steyn’s close working relationship with Jansen and Jansen’s modest response that he wants to be a dependable team player have focused the debate on how people define ‘best’ and could shift public and pundit discussions toward all‑round match impact.