Cape town - World champions Australia have retained their No 1 ranking on the ICC ODI Team Rankings following their 58-run victory over the West Indies in the final of the Tri-Series in Barbados on Sunday, but South Africa have dropped below India into fourth place after they failed to reach the final.
Australia had started the series on 124 points and has finished on 123 points, to lead second-ranked New Zealand by 10 points. However, South Africa's three losses and one no-result has meant they have dropped two points to join India on 110 points, but behind Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side when the points are calculated beyond the decimal point.
The biggest gainer from the tri-series is the West Indies, who have retained their seventh ranking but more importantly it has gained six points to open up a seven-point advantage over eighth-ranked Pakistan.
If this is read in the context that England plus seven highest-ranked sides on the ICC ODI Team Rankings as on September 30 will qualify directly for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, then this is a significant improvement.
Sri Lanka and England, which are in the midst of their ODI series, have also swapped places after three matches with England moving ahead of Sri Lanka. The first game had ended in a thrilling tie, England won the second match by 10 wickets, while the third was abandoned due to rain.
The final two matches of the series will be played on 29 June and 2 July, which means England has an opportunity to strengthen their fifth position while Sri Lanka has a chance to regain their fifth spot.
In the Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, Josh Hazlewood of Australia and West Indies captain Jason Holder have achieved career-best rankings after impressive performances in the tri-series.
Rabada has jumped six places to join seventh-ranked compatriot Dale Steyn after he finished the series with seven wickets, 25-year-old Hazlewood has vaulted eight places to 15th after he ended up as the third most successful bowler behind fourth-ranked Imran Tahir (13) and No 1 ranked Sunil Narine (12) with 11 wickets, while Holder has broken into the top 20 in 20th position after rising four places.
South Africa's AB de Villiers has continued to lead thePlayer Rankings for ODI Batsmen, which has seen Marsh gain six places to reach 28th. Marsh scored 154 runs in the series, including a 79 not out against the West Indies in a league game at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Farhaan Behardien has jumped six places to 49th spot and Kieron Pollard is now in 54th spot after moving up six places.
African News Agency