South Africa's 2-1 maiden ODI series win in Sri Lanka helped the country and its cricketers to move upwards in the latest Reliance ICC ODI Rankings which were released on Sunday.
The 3-match ODI series began with South Africa in 5th position on 109 rating points. Now they have joined Sri Lanka on 111 ratings points and has now joined Sri Lanka on 111 ratings points. However, they are ranked behind Sri Lanka, in 4th position, when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point. South Africa gained two ratings points which means they trail no. 1 ranked Australia by 4 ratings points and 2nd ranked India by 1 rating point.
With the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 starting in Australia and New Zealand in seven months, only six ratings points separate the top five sides. with South Africa to play at least 17 ODIs before it opens its World Cup campaign against Zimbabwe in Hamilton on 15 February. These matches will help South Africa to prepare for the World Cup, they will also provide it with the chance to surge to the top of the ODI team rankings. They are also learning to win in pressure situations.
South Africa players have also benefited from the series as most of the highest-ranking players have moved in the right direction.
Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen
Hashim Amla scored centuries in the opening two matches and also finished the series as the leading run-scorer with 258 runs, gained two places and now trails AB de Villiers by 17 ratings points.
De Villiers' 212 runs in the series earned him 13 ratings points which have given him a career-best rating of 885 and remains in top spot.
Quinton de Kock scored 159 runs during the ODI series, moved up two places to a career-best 11th ranking including his 4th century in 6 matches.
David Miller moved five places and now sits in 40th position.
Reliance ICC Players Rankings for ODI Bowlers
Ryan McLaren, was the most successful bowler of the series with 9 wickets, moved into the top 10 in 10th position after jumping 10 places. He joins Dale Steyn (4), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (7) and Morne Morkel (8). Spin bowler Imran Tahir, who claimed 6 wickets, rocketed 32 places and occupies the 51st spot.
JP Duminy moved up five places to 63rd and Vernon Philander moved up six places to 87th.
Unfortunately not everybody in the South African squad benefited from the Reliance ICC Player Rankings. Duminy, Faf du Plessis and Jacques Kallis slipped in the batting charts. Duminy dropped seven places to 29th, Kallis dropped four places to 40th and du Plessis dropped three places to 54th.
In the bowling, both Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have slipped to fourth and eighth, respectively, after conceding two places each.
Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews and Ajantha Mendis also benefited from the series.
Angelo Mathews' 105 runs in 3 matches helped him gain two places to put him in 22nd spot, while Mendis’ 7 wickets have allowed him to move up seven places to 32nd position.
Lasith Malinga moved up one place and is now in 21st spot while Tillakaratne Dilshan moved five places in the bowling table and is now in 67th position.
