Three wins required against Proteas in remaining ODIs
Aussies still hunting No.1 spot
Australia must win all three remaining matches in the Carlton Mid One-Day International Series against South Africa to reclaim the world No.1 ranking from India.
Darren Lehmann's side currently sits third in the Reliance ICC ODI rankings, three points behind reigning ICC Cricket World Cup champions India, who consolidated their No.1 ranking with a 5-0 sweep against Sri Lanka, completed in Ranchi on Sunday.
The Proteas could also still claim the No.1 spot by also winning all three remaining matches, starting with Wednesday's day-night encounter at Canberra's Manuka Oval.
With Australia currently sitting on 114 points, a 4-1 series result against South Africa would see them take top spot by a fraction of a point from India.
The Proteas, currently second on 115 points, would move to 118 if they won the series 4-1.
Winning two of the final three games would not only give the Australians the Carlton Mid ODI Series silverware, it would also see them climb above the Proteas for second spot on the ICC's rankings table.
The three teams will continue to jostle for the No.1 position until the World Cup, which begins on February 14.
Australia and India will face off in at least two ODIs in January during the Carlton Mid One-Day International Tri Series.
That series also features England, while South Africa heads home after Sunday's match in Sydney and will play five ODIs against West Indies in January.
Possible outcomes for Australia from the Carlton Mid One-Day International series
- Australia become No.1 if they beat South Africa 4-1
- South Africa become No.1 if they beat Australia 4-1
- A 3-2 win to Australia would see them climb above the Proteas to No.2, with India remaining No.1
- A 3-2 win to South Africa would see them remain No.2, with India keeping top position.
Kohli jumps to No.2
India batsman Virat Kohli moved to second place in the Reliance ODI batsmen rankings after a dominant series against Sri Lanka, jumping ahead of South Africa's Hashim Amla.
Kohli scored an unbeaten 139 in the final ODI on Sunday after earlier scores of 66, 53 and 49.
Teammate Rohit Sharma climbed 18 spots to 15th after his record-breaking 264 in Kolkata.
AB de Villiers has kept a strong hold on the No.1 position and George Bailey remains the sole Australian in the top 10, coming in at No.5.
Morkel rises in bowling ranks
South Africa bowler Morne Morkel jumped eight places to sixth in the Reliance ICC ODI bowler rankings after his man-of-the-match performance against Australia in Perth on Sunday.
Mitchell Johnson is now equal fourth alongside England's James Anderson.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews moved five places to 24th after the series against India, while India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin moved within 21 points of a place in the top 10.
Mathews hits No.1 for the first time
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews surged to the top of the Reliance ICC ODI allrounder rankings for the first time, demoting Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez to second spot. Mathews accumulated 339 runs during the five-match series.
Shane Watson is sixth on the list.