Sport

Black Caps leap up ICC world rankings

06:09 am on 1 May 2015

World Cup winners Australia have doubled their lead over second-ranked India on the International Cricket Council's one-day rankings, while New Zealand have made a meteoric rise to third.

The Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum during the one-day World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Black Caps have made the biggest move, jumping eight points to climb to third ahead of South Africa after their runners-up finish at the recent World Cup.

When captain Brendon McCullum took charge of the New Zealand side in December 2012, they were ninth.

In contrast, England has had the biggest fall as it has surrendered seven points, dropping to sixth, 12 points behind fifth-ranked Sri Lanka.

The West Indies, Bangladesh and Pakistan are now locked in a tight struggle for the remaining two slots in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 whose cut-off date is 30 September 2015.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2017 will be played from 1 to 19 June in England and Wales, and the host country (England), plus the next seven highest-ranked ODI sides will participate in the event.

The updated rankings now see a battle between the West Indies (seventh, 88 points), Bangladesh (eighth, 88 points) and Pakistan (ninth, 87 points).

The three sides are separated by one point and will be vying for the last two places in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, adding significant interest to their ODIs in the lead up to the cut-off date.

In the T20I update, World champions Sri Lanka extended their lead over second-ranked India to 11 points.

The top three positions in the updated T20I table are unchanged while the West Indies has gained two places to rise to fourth, pushing Pakistan into fifth spot.

South Africa has also slipped two places to seventh, allowing New Zealand to move up one place to sixth.

Australia and West Indies have gained five points each while Netherlands has conceded eight, Scotland seven and South Africa six points.

The annual Test Championship update will be released after the completion of West Indies versus England and Bangladesh versus Pakistan series.

RELIANCE ICC ODI RANKINGS (following annual update)

Rank* Team Ratings Points*

1 (-) Australia 129 (+7)

2 (-) India 117 (+1)

3 (+1) New Zealand 116 (+8)

4 (-1) South Africa 112 (0)

5 (-) Sri Lanka 106 (-1)

6 (-) England 94 (-7)

7 (-) West Indies 88 (-4)

8 (+1) Bangladesh 88 (+7)

9 (-1) Pakistan 87 (-5)

10 (+1) Ireland 50 (+6)

11 (-1) Zimbabwe 45 (-5)

12 (-) Afghanistan 41 (+3)

* Figures in brackets denote changes in rankings and ratings post annual update

RELIANCE ICC T20I RANKINGS (following annual update)

Rank* Team Ratings*

1 (-) Sri Lanka 135 (4)

2 (-) India 124 (-2)

3 (-) Australia 122 (+5)

4 (+2) West Indies 117 (+5)

5 (-1) Pakistan 113 (-4)

6 (+1) New Zealand 110 (-1)

7 (-2) South Africa 110 (-6)

8 (-) England 100 (+1)

9 (+1) Bangladesh 77 (0)

10 (+2) Afghanistan 62 (0)

11 (-2) Netherlands 60 (-8)

12 (+1) Zimbabwe 51 (-1)

13 (+1) Scotland 44 (-7)