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Australia reclaim No.1 ranking

Australia return to top spot in the ICC Team Rankings after a 3-0 ODI whitewash against India

Australia’s one-day series whitewash against India has propelled them back to the top of the ICC Women’s Team Rankings.

Australia surrendered the No.1 ranking to England when they lost the T20I leg of the Women’s Ashes 2-1 last November, but a 3-0 result against India has been enough for Meg Lanning’s team to climb one point ahead of England on the table.

The teams were separated by a single point – in England’s favour – when Australia embarked on the Commonwealth Bank Tour of India.

But three comprehensive wins, by margins of eight wickets, 60 runs and 97 runs respectively – has turned the narrow margin back in the Southern Stars’ favour.

Australia had held the No.1 position since the rankings (which take in all three formats) were introduced in 2015 until last October, when the annual update installed their Ashes rivals in top spot.

The No.1 ranking has changed hands another three times since.

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But it may not be in Australia’s hands for long, with a T20I tri-series also featuring their Ashes rivals to begin in Mumbai next week.

Should England outdo Australia in that tournament, which sees each team play each other twice before a final on March 31, they’ll likely reclaim the top position.

Speaking ahead of the ODIs, Australia coach Matthew Mott said the chance to reclaim the coveted title of 'world number one' was an extra incentive for his team.

"It's a huge carrot. We'd be lying if we said anything different,” Mott said.

"We were disappointed we didn't finish off the Ashes and take back that number one spot. We're playing two of the best teams in the world this tour and we see it as a huge opportunity to right some wrongs that happened at the end of the Ashes when we didn't finish England off."

ICC Women's Team Rankings

Australia - 130

England - 129

New Zealand - 122

India - 114

West Indies - 100

South Africa - 93

Pakistan - 73

Sri Lanka - 65

Commonwealth Bank Tour of India

Australia T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Naomi Stalenberg, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

India T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Anuja Patil, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Rumeli Dhar, Mona Meshram.

England T20I squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Katie George, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Anya Shrubsole, Bryony Smith, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Danni Wyatt

Warm-up match Australia beat India A by 321 runs. Report

Warm-up match Australia beat India A by seven wickets. Report

ODI series

First ODI Australia won by eight wickets Scorecard

Second ODI Australia won by 60 runs Scorecard 

Third ODI Australia won by 97 runs Scorecard

T20I tri-series

First T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 22. Live Coverage

Second T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 23. Live Coverage

Third T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 25. Live Coverage

Fourth T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, March 26. Live Coverage

Fifth T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 28. Live Coverage

Sixth T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 29. Live Coverage

Final Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 31. Live Coverage