Australia hang on to No.1 ODI ranking

Australia’s hold on the number one spot in the International Cricket Council’s one-day international rankings hangs by a thread after New Zealand sealed a 2-0 series win in Hamilton on Sunday.

Australia, the reigning ODI World Cup winners, remain the leading 50-over side in the world despite surrendering the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy to the Kiwis.

But if South Africa, who are breathing down Australia’s neck behind by only a fraction of a point, win both of their remaining ODIs against Sri Lanka, they will ascend to top spot.

ICC ODI Rankings:

The Proteas currently lead Sri Lanka 3-0 in their five-match series and should their winning streak continue they will go to 119 ranking points, with Australia consigned to 118 points for now.

Australia don’t have any scheduled ODIs until this year’s ICC Champions Trophy, to be held in England in June, while the Proteas will head to New Zealand for another five one-dayers after they wrap up their series against Sri Lanka.

The Black Caps meanwhile have risen above India to third spot with their series win over Aaron Finch’s men, gaining two ranking points to sit on 113, going past India’s 112 despite the latter prevailing 2-1 in their most recent ODI series with England.

Last year, Australia ascended to No.1 on the ICC charts in both Test and ODIs before losing five consecutive matches in the longest format to briefly fall to fourth on the Test rankings.

Steve Smith’s side has since risen back to No.2 and will face arguably the toughest challenge in Test cricket later this month when they travel to face top-ranked India on their home soil.