Australia Slips Down to Sixth Spot in the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings

Updated - 09 Jan 2019, 06:58 PM

ICC update puts Tim Paine's side below Pakistan in sixth spot after consecutive defeats to England. Getty Images

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Australia Cricket team have slipped to a 34-year low, dropping to the sixth position on the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings table after losing the opening two fixtures of the ongoing five-match series against England.

However, only a remarkable series win from here or rain can save Australia from further slips. An Aussie side have never before lost four consecutive bilateral series (minimum two matches).

With two losses against England in London and Cardiff, Australia has fallen to 102 rankings points. They are now a fraction of a point below the 2017 Champions Trophy winners Pakistan.

The Tim Paine led side will be desperate to come back to winning ways in the third game on June 19 (Tuesday). However, the visitor’s are missing two of their senior cricketers Steven Smith and David Warner. Cricket Australia banned them on the wake of the ball-tampering scandal.

Australia England
Getty Images

They are also out of the three main seamers, who crushed England in the Ashes series earlier this year. Justin Langer, the head coach is confident that his side will fight back in the series.

If they manage to turnaround the tour dramatically and win the series by 3-2, then Australia will stay at number 5. However, the difference between them and New Zealand will become less.

Also, England will lose their top position in this case and India will take over them as the top-ranked team. In any scenario, South Africa and the Kiwis will retain their number 3 and 4 positions respectively.

Here is the ranking:

ICC ODI rankings

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