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South Africa back to fourth spot May 17, 2005 23:25 IST South Africa's 5-0 series win in the West Indies sees it climb back into the top four of the ICC ODI Championship for the first time since July 2004. The victory in the Caribbean boosted South Africa's rating by five points to 112. West Indies went into the series only two points behind South Africa in the ICC table but the comprehensive defeat has seen its rating fall to 98 points, its lowest since November 2002, and its position fall to seventh. It has been a poor series for the West Indies players too as reflected in Brian Lara's drop of 14 places to 22nd, his lowest one-day rating for four years. Ian Bradshaw was the only West Indies bowler to move up in the top 100 rankings, climbing five places to 17th. West Indies will have to play really well to beat Pakistan, who have recently beaten India in the six-match ODI series, in its forthcoming series of three ODI matches starting on Wednesday, May 18. Graeme Smith has achieved his best ever position in the ICC ODI Player Rankings, moving up to third place after South Africa's victory. Smith replaces Jacques Kallis as the current leading South African one-day batsman. Boeta Dippenaar ended the series at 15th, while Ashwell Prince climbed 12 places to 51st. In the bowling, Makhaya Ntini returned to the top ten, while Andre Nel has consolidated his status as a leading international bowler, climbing 20 places to 26th. The top 10 ODI batsmen and bowlers are listed below. The ICC ODI Championship table correct on 16 May 2005:
ICC ODI Player Rankings - Batsmen
ICC Test Player Rankings - Bowlers
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