Australia has reclaimed their position at the summit of the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings after defeating South Africa in a dominant fashion in the ongoing ODI series. Just days after Pakistan had briefly dethroned them from the top spot, Australia made a resounding statement with a convincing victory in the second ODI against South Africa, held in Bloemfontein on Saturday, September 9.
In a remarkable display of their ODI prowess, Australia secured a comprehensive 123-run victory over the Proteas, following their narrow three-wicket win in the series opener. Opting to bat first in the second ODI, Australia showcased their batting might, riding on centuries from Marnus Labuschagne (124 off 99 balls) and David Warner (106 off 93 balls) to amass a formidable total of 392/8 in their allotted 50 overs.
In response, South Africa’s batting lineup struggled to find momentum, eventually folding for 269 runs in just 41.5 overs. While several South African batsmen, including Heinrich Klaasen (49), David Miller (49), Temba Bavuma (46), and Quinton de Kock (45), made promising starts, they failed to capitalize on these opportunities and guide their team to victory. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was the standout performer with the ball for Australia, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 48 in his nine-over spell.
This crucial win propelled Australia back to the summit of the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, where they now boast 121 rating points. This places them one point ahead of Pakistan, who currently hold 120 points. India sits in third place with 114 rating points.
Australia’s resurgence in the 50-over format has been remarkable in recent times. In the 2022 season, they endured a closely-fought series loss against Sri Lanka away from home but rebounded emphatically with a 3-0 series whitewash of New Zealand on home soil. In November 2022, they continued their dominance by blanking England 3-0 at home and went on to secure a historic victory against India in India in March 2023.
With their back-to-back victories against South Africa in Bloemfontein, Australia now leads the five-match ODI series 2-0.
Ashwin Set to Feature in Local One-Day League Before Joining Team India for Australia ODIs
In a significant development, Indian off-spinner R Ashwin is set to make his return to the Indian ODI team after an absence of over a year. India is gearing up to host Australia in a three-match ODI series, scheduled to commence on September 22. This series will serve as a crucial rehearsal for both teams ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, set to kick off on October 5 in India.
The BCCI men’s selection committee announced India’s squad for the upcoming 50-over series against Australia, and a noteworthy inclusion was R Ashwin. The veteran off-spinner, who last featured in an ODI in January 2022, has been given an opportunity to make his case for the World Cup squad, especially if Akshar Patel fails to recover in time from a quadriceps injury.
Ashwin has been diligently preparing for his return, undergoing training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) under the watchful eyes of chief VVS Laxman and spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule. In a strategic move, Ashwin is expected to participate in a local 50-over game organized by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) before joining the national team in Mohali for the Australia ODI series.
This local game, part of the VAP Trophy’s one-day league, is currently underway, and Ashwin is slated to take the field on Tuesday, September 19. His participation in several local three-day games in recent weeks underscores his commitment and readiness to make a strong comeback to international cricket.
