Australia retain No. 1 spot in ODI rankings after annual update

Australia have retained their No. 1 spot in the ICC men's ODI team rankings following the annual update that dropped results from the 2019-20 season and reflects all matches completed since May 2020.

With 118 rating points, Australia are two points clear of second-placed Pakistan after the update, which weights matches completed before May 2022 at 50% and subsequent matches at 100%. Earlier this month, after a similar update for Test rankings, Australia had lost their No. 1 position in red-ball cricket to India.

Pakistan had grabbed the top ODI spot last week, after taking a 4-0 lead during their five-match home series against New Zealand. But their stay proved to be a short one as they lost the final match and slipped back behind Australia. Had Pakistan won the series 5-0, they would have remained at the top of the table even after the annual update.

India, who are No. 1 in both Tests and T20Is, are at No. 3 in ODIs, with just one rating point separating them and Pakistan.

India are followed by New Zealand and England who lost four and ten points, respectively, after the update.

Afghanistan were the biggest beneficiaries. They are now eighth, having overtaken Sri Lanka and West Indies. South Africa and Bangladesh are at No. 6 and 7, respectively. The top eight happen to be the teams that have qualified directly for this year's ODI World Cup, to be held in India.

The women's annual team rankings updates will be carried out at the beginning of October.