Australia on top of the world

Australia’s clean sweep of the ODI series against Pakistan means Darren Lehmann’s side will hold the world’s No.1 ranking until they come up against South Africa in Australia next month.

Quick Single: Maxwell pulls off mission impossible

With the third One-Day International between India and West Indies cancelled due to a cyclone in Visakhapatnam, and the series currently level at one-all, India cannot win the four matches they required to retain top spot on the ICC rankings.

Quick Single: India back on level terms

If India were to win both remaining ODI fixtures against West Indies, they will have accumulated 113.98 rankings points, just 0.02 points behind the Australians, on an even 114.

Defeat to West Indies in both matches would see them drop to 110.84 rankings points, which would place them in fourth position behind Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka (111.46).

Australia were the world’s No.1-ranked ODI side as recently as late August, before a shock defeat to Zimbabwe in the tri-series in the African nation saw them slip to fourth position.

Between September 2009 and August 2012, they reigned supreme at the top of the tree, but haven’t had it all their own way since, with South Africa and Sri Lanka, as well as the Indians, all vying for the sought-after position.

Amazingly, the Proteas, who beat Australia in the final of that recent tri-series, are less than one rankings point behind both sides, on 113.21.

The Australians host South Africa in five ODIs in Australia from November 14-23 as both sides ramp up their preparation ahead of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.