Johannesburg – South Africa have fallen four positions, to fifth, in the International Cricket Council T20 rankings after they were eliminated in the Super Eights stage of the World T20 in Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Ranked first heading into the tournament, the Proteas lost all three of their matches – against Pakistan, Australia and India –
in the second round to finish bottom of their Super Eights group.
Hosts Sri Lanka, who finished top of their group, climbed three positions to fill top spot in the latest rankings released on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in the T20 player rankings, Proteas veteran Jacques Kallis dropped five places to 14th in the list for batsmen, and former captain Graeme Smith, who did not play in the global tournament, fell three positions to 18th.
There was good news, however, for Faf du Plessis, who made a career best 65 in the one-run defeat to India on Tuesday.
Du Plessis, who was playing in only his fourth T20 International, climbed 101 places in the rankings to 68th position.
Among the bowlers, spinner Johan Botha dropped one spot to fifth and paceman Morne Morkel fell three places to 15th. Fellow speedster Dale Steyn retained 11th position in the ratings.
Spin bowler Robin Peterson made the most significant move upwards of the South Africans in the list, climbing 36 positions to 51st.
Kallis, South Africa's top-ranked all-rounder, fell one spot to seventh among players rated for their performances with bat and ball. – Sapa