Australia ahead of South Africa by a fraction following series loss to New Zealand

South Africa is eying number-one position in the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings after New Zealand defeated Australia by 2-0 in its three-match series which concluded in Hamilton on Sunday.

New Zealand’s series win means Australia has stayed as the top-ranked side in the world. However, it has dropped from 120 points to join South Africa on 118 points.

With South Africa leading Sri Lanka 3-0 in its five-match series, victories in the remaining two matches (in Cape Town on 7 February and in Centurion on 10 February) will help the Proteas to leapfrog Australia into number-one position. In this scenario, South Africa will finish one point ahead of Australia on 119 points.

The 2-0 series victory means New Zealand has risen to 113 points, one point clear of fourth-ranked India, which will be defending its ICC Champions Trophy title in the United Kingdom in June.

MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings (as on 5 February, after New Zealand-Australia series, and three matches in South Africa-Sri Lanka series):

Rank Team Points

1. Australia 118 (-2)
2. South Africa 118
3. New Zealand 113 (+2)
4. India 112
5. England 107
6. Sri Lanka 99
7. Bangladesh 91
8. Pakistan 89
9. West Indies 87
10. Afghanistan 52
11. Zimbabwe 47
12. Ireland 42

(Developed by David Kendix)