Ponting remains top ODI batsman as Gibbs smashes his way to 11th place

Australia captain Ricky Ponting's 164-run contribution at the Wanderers was not enough to secure his side victory in the decisive ODI match against South Africa but it did push him to a new record points tally at the top of the LG ICC ODI batting rankings.

Ponting's personal best total has increased the lead he holds over teammate Adam Gilchrist at the top of the official table while fellow Australian, Andrew Symonds, has also reached a new personal best in climbing to third place in the batting rankings. Symonds is also third in the list of all-rounders behind Shaun Pollock and Andrew Flintoff.

The major mover in the batting table is, not surprisingly, Herschelle Gibbs whose astonishing 175-run innings helped him improve from 22nd to 11th over the course of the series.

Gibbs is now the second ranked South African batsman behind skipper Graeme Smith who is back in the top four after scoring 244 runs in the series.

The high scoring series finale has had a negative impact on several bowlers with Brett Lee dropping out of the top three to sixth place, well below the career best ranking he held just over a month ago. On a brighter note for Australia, Nathan Bracken has moved up into the top 10 for the first time.

The series victory means that South Africa are likely to be the second-seeded side in the ICC Champions Trophy this October. This will ensure they avoid Australia in the group phase of the event in India.

Australia's rating is the lowest it has been since October 2003 but they still retain a comfortable 15 point lead over their nearest rival.

Further down the LG ICC ODI table, the fight for sixth place is becoming increasingly crucial as the team that is seventh on 1 April* will have to play off against the eighth, ninth and tenth placed sides for the right to take part in the second round of the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 in India. England, currently sixth with 108 points, have two ODIs to play against India while Sri Lanka, seventh on 107 points, have three ODI matches against Pakistan before the cut-off date.

Full details of the current LG ICC ODI Championship and how future results will impact on the table, as well as the LG ICC Player Rankings can be found here

* India, as hosts, will automatically qualify for the second stage of next year's ICC Champions Trophy even if they are outside the top six of the LG ICC ODI Championship table on 1 April 2006. If they are outside that top six then the sixth-placed side in the table will take part in the preliminary round.