Australia have held onto their No. 1 position in the ODI team rankings after the annual update carried out by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday (May 11.
Australia improved their rating from 113 to 118 following the annual update, but they face strong competition ahead with Pakistan (116 points) and India (115 points) occupying the second and third spots respectively.
Before the annual rankings update, Australia were at the top with 113 points with India behind them on decimal count. Pakistan were ranked third with 112 points and jumped to the top for a brief period after their victory in the fourth ODI against New Zealand earlier this month.
Pakistan could have stayed at the top of the rankings even after the annual update had they won the fifth and final ODI to inflict a 5-0 clean sweep against New Zealand.
“The annual rankings consider all series completed since May 2020, with series completed before May 2022 weighted at 50 percent and all subsequent series weighted at 100 percent,” ICC said in a release.
As a result, Pakistan have now pipped India to attain the second spot, with their 4-0 away series defeat in England no longer being considered. Their 3-0 series loss in England in 2021 also has a reduced weightage, helping them surpass India in the list. On the other hand, India have been dented by their 2-1 series loss at home against Australia in March this year.
In the ICC Men’s ODI team rankings, New Zealand hold the fourth spot with 104 points. The Kiwis have overtaken England (101 points) to fourth spot. England have witnessed a significant 10-point drop in their rating with their 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup triumph no longer being counted.
South Africa (sixth) and Bangladesh (seventh) retain their positions in the rankings char after the annual update. But there is a big movement below them as Afghanistan make giant strides to attain eighth spot, overtaking Sri Lanka and West Indies.
Afghanistan improved their rating points (88 from 71) while Sri Lanka (80 from 86) witnessed a drop. West Indies maintain their rating of 72.
(With ICC Inputs)
