South Africa has a chance to reclaim top spot in the ICC ODI Team Rankings when it faces New Zealand in first of the three One-Day Internationals, which starts on Wednesday in Mount Maunganui.
South Africa shares second position with India on 113 ratings point, but is ranked behind the reigning world champion by a fraction of the point. The two sides are just one ratings point behind Australia, and a 3-0 series will put South Africa ahead of the four-time world champion by one ratings point.
If South Africa manages to win all the three matches against New Zealand, then it will reclaim the number-one position for the first time in five years after handing over the baton to Australia following its first-round elimination from ICC Champions Trophy 2009.
On the other side of the coin, if New Zealand wins the series, then it will leapfrog Pakistan into sixth position. Currently, both Pakistan and New Zealand are on equal points on 98 ratings points but the Black Caps are in seventh position when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.
Meanwhile, AB de Villiers goes into the forthcoming series as the number-one ranked batsman in the ICC ODI Player Rankings and he will be looking to build on his fine recent run of form as the Proteas and Black Caps continue their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 preparations.
Virat Kohli’s recent progression up the rankings following a good series against the West Indies has pushed Hashim Amla into second position and the South Africa opener will be aiming to reduce the five-point deficit.
Overall, there are four South Africa batsmen inside the top 20, including de Villiers and Amla, with Quinton de Kock in ninth position and Faf du Plessis in 11th spot – just 19 ratings points behind his team-mate.
New Zealand’s top-ranked batsman is Ross Taylor who sits in 10th place in the current rankings. There are two more kiwis inside the top 20, namely Kane Williamson (12th) and Martin Guptill (20th) and be eyeing positive improvements in their home series. Skipper Brendon McCullum (25th) lays 20 ratings points adrift of his team-mate Guptill (20th).
On the ICC Players Rankings for ODI Bowlers, South African paceman and ICC People’s Choice award nominee, Dale Steyn, will go into the series as the top-ranked bowler in 3rd place, while ninth placed Ryan McLaren is a point adrift of Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez. Kyle Mills is Black Caps’ leading bowler in 13th place, with Tim Southee laying a solitary ratings point outside the top 20.
