Australia might have lost their home series against South Africa, and it would be easy to think that the Aussies had the last laugh if you look at the ICC’s latest ODI rankings. Some of their biggest stars and even a couple of up-and-coming ones have bolted up the rankings due to outstanding performances in the series. From gigantic centuries to thoughtful spells with the ball, it seems Australia’s World Cup-winning core reminds the world as to why they are always formidable in ODIs.
Aussie Batters on the Charge
Let’s look back and start at that unforgettable 431/2 demolition job in Mackay. Three tons, three statements—Head, Marsh, and Green have converted dominance on the field into numerical supremacy off it. Head, who is now only outside the top 10 at equal 11th, swiftly moves into being an established dangerous white-ball opener along with Marsh (who some still think is just a “T20 guy”), parachuting four places to 44th to show his ODI game is deserving of more respect than what observers currently give him credit for. But the real fairytale was Cameron Green – his not out 118 not only helped his team to a record total, but propelled him a whopping 40 places in the rankings to 78th. And let’s not forget Josh Inglis, who jumped 23 spots to 64th following his brilliant 87 in the second ODI, and really, you’ve got a batting unit that is showing considerable depth and power.
Tight Race at the Top of Bowling Rankings
Centuries from the Aussie trio stole headlines, but the bowlers’ leaderboard had surprises of its own. The situation in the ODI bowling rankings is that we now have a tie at the top, with Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka) joining Keshav Maharaj (South Africa) on 671 rating points. Theekshana didn’t play this week! But Maharaj’s modest return of 1/57 in the final match of the series saw his lead disappear. Now that’s some pressure at the top! It is a rare occurrence to have co-leaders in the bowling rankings, and it certainly creates a narrative heading into the next rounds of international matches. With these two spinners now, every over will feel a little extra weight!
Bowling Gains for the Aussies Too
Patients weren’t the only headline makers, with Australia’s bowlers slowly getting their act together. Abbott’s steady rise continued as he climbed nine rungs to share the 48th rank. A surge of 21 positions saw Nathan Ellis storm into 65th place. Neither of these players would be a household name beyond Australia, but when given a chance, they have been able to quietly influence results. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi was the biggest mover overall, moving up six spots to equal 28th place, after taking seven wickets during the series. His bowling performances definitely kept the Aussies contained, at least until the Mackay run fest!
So, if we look at the actual scoreboard, South Africa may have the trophy, but the ICC has a different story. The Australian batters are growing, the bowlers are building, and the depth is better than we have seen heading into another season of international cricket. For fans, the question is: Does this ranking progression mean we will see more dominant performances in the next series? But maybe this is just a coincidence of the Aussies’ streaky brilliance, who knows? Either way, it should be an entertaining few months ahead.
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