Australia maintain big lead after annual ODI rankings update
The Aussies hold a healthy advantage at the top of the ICC Women's ODI Team Rankings.
England and India have made inroads though Australia has maintained their massive lead at the top of the ICC Women's ODI team rankings following the annual update made by the ICC on Wednesday.
Australia's lead at the top of the rankings is down to 40 points from 44, with second-placed England and third-placed India making ground on the seven-time ICC Women's Cricket World Cup champions after the update.
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A seventh Women's World Cup title for Australia after they defeated England in the title decider in 2022.
Australia have a total of 167 points to keep their healthy buffer over England (127) in women's 50-over cricket, with India (121) gaining eight rating points overall to close the gap on second place from 11 points to six.
New Zealand (96), South Africa (90) and Sri Lanka (82) round out an unchanged top six, with the Proteas remaining in fifth placed despite dropping nine rating points on the update.
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The update provides weightings at 50 percent for matches between May 2022 and April 2024 and 100 percent for matches thereafter, with South Africa's achievement in reaching the semi-finals of the most recent 50-over World Cup in New Zealand at the start of 2022 no longer included.
This also effects fellow 2022 semi-finalists West Indies (72), who drop 10 rating points and fall from seventh to ninth overall and behind Bangladesh (79) and Pakistan (78) as a result.