South Africa has reclaimed the number one spot in the ICC ODI Team Rankings following the conclusion of ODI series against New Zealand. The Proteas had entered the three-match ODI series trailing Australia by one ratings point. It moved to the top of the table following its 72 runs victory in the second ODI in Mount Maunganui.
Although, the third and final ODI of the series in Hamilton was washed-out, the results in Mount Maunganui were enough to ensure the Proteas finish the series on top of the tree. This is the first time in five years that South Africa has surged to the top of the ODI team table.
Meanwhile, in the ICC ODI Player Rankings, AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla occupy the top two spots in the batting table following their sides’ 2-0 series victory over the Black Caps. Amla, however, with scores of 38 and 119, has closed the gap to 28 ratings points as preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 gather pace.
However, India’s Virat Kohli, who has slipped to third following Amla’s movement, will have a chance to move up the order when he takes to the field against Sri Lanka in the forthcoming series, starting November 2. Only two ratings points separate the second and third ranked batsmen.
Kiwi Ross Taylor is 10th in the current rankings, while the Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum (26th) has dropped one place on the leaderboard, but the biggest mover is Luke Ronchi, who has risen 52 places to 62nd in the batting rankings with scores of 99 and 79, respectively.
On the ICC Players Rankings for ODI Bowlers, South African paceman Dale Steyn has retained his third place, while Ryan McLaren has dropped three places to 12th position, though Morne Morkel has moved up two places to 15th after a series which saw him claim three wickets.
Leg-spinner Imran Tahir’s consistent performances have seen him climb four places to a career-high 22nd place. Another significant riser is Vernon Philander who rises 15 places to 78th position. New Zealand’s top ranked bowler, Kyle Mills, drops four places to 17th in the latest rankings.
