South Africa breathing down Australia’s neck

Australia’s lead at the top of the ICC ODI Championship table now stands at its smallest margin in almost four years.

Second-placed South Africa’s clean sweep of its three-match series against Zimbabwe, combined with Australia’s defeat at the hands of the West Indies on Monday, means the gap between the top two sides is just four rating points.

And that gap could be reduced still further, to only two points, if third-placed India beats Ricky Ponting’s side on Friday.

The last time a side was this close to toppling Australia from the summit was almost four years ago, in December 2002, when the margin between Ricky Ponting’s side and South Africa was just five rating points.

And with the ICC Champions Trophy only just over two weeks away there is plenty of scope for more significant developments in the Championship table in the near future.

If India wins Friday’s clash in Kuala Lumpur it will not only cut Australia’s lead but also close the gap to South Africa. That currently stands at 12 rating points but would be reduced to 10 points if Rahul Dravid’s side secures a success.

The West Indies can reflect on a successful tri-series so far. Not only have Brian Lara’s side reached Sunday’s final but it has also climbed up one place in the table.

The West Indies have gained seven rating points through victories over India and Australia, enough to take it above England and leave it just two points behind sixth-placed Sri Lanka.

In the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, Michael Hussey’s maiden ODI hundred, against the West Indies, has left him within touching distance of the top position.

Hussey is now just five rating points behind fellow Australian Adam Gilchrist – who is sitting out the tri-series - while Ponting completes the top three places. And with Andrew Symonds in fifth spot and Michael Clarke tenth, Australia has five players in the top ten.

Mark Boucher hit the headlines and Zimbabwe’s bowlers on Wednesday for his whirlwind unbeaten 147 from just 68 balls and that innings has boosted his ranking.

He has moved up four spots to 32nd position and has a career-best tally of rating points.

South Africa has three players in the top 20 batting slots with captain Graeme Smith the highest placed in eighth position. After him comes Boeta Dippenaar in 14th spot while Herschelle Gibbs lies 17th.

Zimbabwe’s highest ranked batsman is Brendan Taylor who is 43rd in the rankings.

South Africa’s Shaun Pollock remains the top ranked player in both ODI Rankings, for bowlers and all-rounders. Andrew Hall has joined him in the bowling top 20, up six places to 17th position, while Makhaya Ntini is sandwiched between the duo, in eighth slot.

The leading Zimbabwe bowler in the rankings is off-spinner and captain Prosper Utseya, in 18th place.

Zimbabwe lost two rating points as a result of their 3-0 loss in South Africa and although it still retains ninth position in the Championship table that is now only by virtue of fractions from Bangladesh when the ratings are re-calculated to three decimal places.