Why is Marco Jansen trending in Australia?

Published 28 October 2026 at 5:15 am · 10 sources · 100+ searches today

Marco Jansen is trending in Australia because he produced a major all-round performance against Australia in the second Test at St George’s Park, Gqeberha. He scored 85 runs and took 5 for 33, making him central to South Africa’s win push in the ICC World Test Championship series. As of 28 October 2026, that display, plus comments from Dale Steyn and his rivalry with Marnus Labuschagne, is driving searches.

Key facts

28 October 2026: Marco Jansen is trending in Australia after the second Test in Gqeberha.
Jansen scored 85 and took 5 for 33 against Australia.
22 October 2026: Dale Steyn called Jansen "currently the best cricketer in the world".
Jansen and Marnus Labuschagne were both born in Klerksdorp, South Africa.
The series was due to move to a deciding Test at Newlands on 27 October 2026.

What happened

Marco Jansen stood out for South Africa against Australia in the second Test at St George’s Park, Gqeberha. He made 85 runs and then took 5 wickets for 33 runs, giving South Africa a decisive all-round performance.

His spell was especially notable because he had already taken 3/68 and 1/45 in Durban earlier in the series, but the five-wicket haul in Gqeberha marked a clear step up.

Why Australians are searching for him

The performance mattered directly to Australia’s Test campaign, so Australian fans are following his name closely. The series was moving toward a third and deciding Test at Newlands on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, which kept the focus on the match-up.

Jansen has also been part of a growing on-field rivalry with Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne. Their link is unusual because both were born in Klerksdorp, South Africa, and their exchanges have included conversations in Afrikaans.

The numbers and the praise

Jansen is 26 years old and plays as an all-rounder, which is why his impact with both bat and ball has drawn attention. South African fast bowling great Dale Steyn said on 22 October 2026 that Jansen is "currently the best cricketer in the world".

Steyn also responded to comparisons with England batter Harry Brook by saying, "Harry don’t bowl," highlighting Jansen’s value as a genuine all-rounder rather than a specialist batter.

What to watch next

As of 28 October 2026, the evidence shows the series had reached a deciding stage at Newlands, but it does not confirm the final result or the final playing XI. That means searches for Jansen are likely to continue until the match outcome is clear.

South Africa batter Ryan Rickelton said Kagiso Rabada’s return helped relieve Jansen’s burden as attack leader and allowed him to play more freely. That context helps explain why Jansen’s role has become such a major talking point.

Frequently asked

Why is Marco Jansen trending in Australia right now?

He is trending because he produced a standout performance for South Africa against Australia in the second Test at Gqeberha. He scored 85 runs and took 5 wickets for 33 runs, which had a major impact on the series.

What were Marco Jansen’s match figures against Australia?

In the second Test at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, Jansen scored 85 runs and took 5 for 33. Earlier in the series he had figures of 3/68 and 1/45 in Durban.

Why did Dale Steyn talk about Marco Jansen?

On 22 October 2026, Dale Steyn called Jansen "currently the best cricketer in the world." He later replied to comparisons with Harry Brook by saying, "Harry don’t bowl."

What is the connection between Marco Jansen and Marnus Labuschagne?

They have an on-field rivalry, and both were born in Klerksdorp, South Africa. Their exchanges have included conversations in Afrikaans.

Sources

Researched automatically from live news and written by Simpledot's AI; facts are limited to what the sources above report as of the published time. Spot an error? Tell us.