[Archive 2007-02-18] Australia dethroned, South Africa ranks first in world cricket

Historical archive — originally published 2007-02-18. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.

Australia has lost the top spot of the ICC ODI rankings to South Africa, after losing the second match of the Chappell-Hadlee trophy against New Zealand - Australia's fifth defeat in their last six consecutive matches,

It is the first time Australia has dropped from world No.1 since the rankings were started in October, 2002. However, Australia still has a vast lead in the Test Match Championship and are still the ODI World Champions having won the last two World Cups,

New Zealand's win edges them further up the table to within a few decimal points of current world number three team, Pakistan. If New Zealand can win the third match of the Chappell-Hadlee trophy they will take Pakistan's spot.

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Text adapted from Australia dethroned, South Africa ranks first in world cricket by Wikinews contributors under CC BY 2.5. Paragraphs have been selected and abridged, and formatting adjusted. Contributor history.