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Tahir back in world's top three

Cape Town - South Africa have benefitted the most following their 2-1 success over New Zealand in the just-concluded series.

The Proteas have claimed third position on the ICC ODI rankings, while their wrist-spinner Imran Tahir has returned into the top three of the ICC Player rankings for ODI bowlers.

In the series between the third and fourth-ranked sides, South Africa had started on 109 points as compared to New Zealand’s 110 points.

However, the 2-1 series win means South Africa have moved to third on 110 points while New Zealand have dropped to fourth on 109 points.

Tahir, who started the series in fifth spot, has returned to the top three in second place after rising three places following his five wickets in the series.

While forcing his way up the order, Tahir has pushed his team-mate and former world No 2 Dale Steyn into fifth position (down by one spot).

New Zealand’s Adam Milne and David Wiese of South Africa, who also finished with Tahir as the joint-leading wicket-takers, have made impressive gains.

Milne has vaulted 30 places to 43rd in the latest rankings, which were released on Thursday morning, while Wiese has entered in 232nd spot.

In the ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen, top-scorer Tom Latham is the biggest mover. The left-handed opener’s series contribution of 178 runs has helped him lift 32 places to 74th.

However, it is Latham’s opening partner Martin Guptill who has achieved a career-best ranking of 14th. The right-handed batsman scored 138 runs, including 103 not out in the second ODI in Potchefstroom, which has vaulted him four places.

Guptill is the third New Zealand batsman to feature inside the top 15 after Kane Williamson (fifth) and Ross Taylor (eighth).

AB de Villiers has retained his No 1 position on the table but third-ranked Hashim Amla has been able to reduce the gap from 83 points to 45 points following his series contribution of 176 runs as compared to De Villiers’s 104 runs in three matches.

Amla will move into second position when Kumar Sangakkara is removed from the list in the next update.

ICC ODI Team Rankings (as on 27 August, after South Africa-New Zealand ODI series):

1. Australia - 129 rating points  

2. India - 115

3. South Africa - 110

4. New Zealand - 109    

5. Sri Lanka - 103          

6. England - 98  

7. Bangladesh - 96         

8. Pakistan - 90

9. West Indies - 88

10. Ireland - 50

ICC ODI Player Rankings (as on 27 August, after South Africa-New Zealand ODI series)

Batsmen

Rank     (+/-)       Player                  Team     Points    Ave        HS Rating
   1         ( - )        AB de Villiers     SA         884        53.27    902 v NZ at Auckland 2015
   2         ( - )        K. Sangakkara     SL          839        41.98    861 v Sco at Hobart 2015
   3         ( - )        Hashim Amla      SA         811        54.30    901 v Eng at Trent Bridge 2012
   4         (+1)       Virat Kohli          Ind         790        50.66    886 v Ban at Fatullah 2014
   5         (-1)        Kane Williamson NZ         788        48.02    798 v SA at Centurion 2015
   6         ( - )        T. Dilshan            SL          781        39.71    802 v Sco at Hobart 2015
   7         ( - )        Shikhar Dhawan  Ind         765        44.41    794 v SA at Melbourne 2015
   8         ( - )        Ross Taylor         NZ         728        43.91    743 v Zim at Harare 2015
   9         ( - )        MS Dhoni            Ind         723        52.24    836 v Aus at Delhi 2009
  10        ( - )        Glenn Maxwell    Aus        720        35.05    724 v Pak at Adelaide 2015


Bowlers

Rank     (+/-)       Player                  Team     Points    Ave        HS Rating
  1          ( - )        Mitchell Starc     Aus        783!      18.33    783 v NZ at Melbourne 2015
   2         (+3)       Imran Tahir         SA         723        21.67    735 v SL at Sydney 2015
   3         ( - )        Sunil Narine        WI         709        26.49    791 v SL at Jamaica 2013
   4         (-2)        Trent Boult          NZ         705*     24.08    738 v Eng at The Oval 2015
   5         (-1)        Dale Steyn           SA         694        25.89    746 v Ind at Durban 2013
   6         ( - )        Mitchell Johnson Aus        693        25.26    724 v Ban at Darwin 2008
   7         ( - )        Shakib Al Hasan  Ban        690        28.35    717 v Zim at Chittagong 2009
   8         ( - )        Saeed Ajmal        Pak        665        22.73    810 v SA at Centurion 2013
   9         ( - )        James Anderson  Eng        650        29.22    719 v SA at The Oval 2013
  10        (+1)       R. Ashwin            Ind         644        31.40    691 v SL at Hambantota 2012
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