South Africa has a chance to reclaim top spot in the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings when it faces New Zealand in first of the three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), which starts on Wednesday in Mount Maunganui.

South Africa shares second position with India on 113 ratings point, but is ranked behind the reigning world champion by a fraction of the point. The two sides are just one ratings point behind Australia, and a 3-0 series will put South Africa ahead of the four-time world champion by one ratings point.

If South Africa manages to win all the three matches against New Zealand, then it will reclaim the number-one position for the first time in five years after handing over the baton to Australia following its first-round elimination from ICC Champions Trophy 2009.

On the other side of the coin, if New Zealand wins the series, then it will leapfrog Pakistan into sixth position. Currently, both Pakistan and New Zealand are on equal points on 98 ratings points but the Black Caps are in seventh position when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.


Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings (as on 20 October, at the end of India-West Indies series)

Rank Team Rating

1 Australia 114
2 India 113
3 South Africa 113
4 Sri Lanka 111
5 England 107
6 Pakistan 98
7 New Zealand 98
8 West Indies 96
9 Bangladesh 69
10 Zimbabwe 58
11 Afghanistan 42
12 Ireland 33