HIGHLIGHTS
*Australia dropped to sixth place following back-to-back defeats against England
*They have fallen to 102 rankings points to sit a fraction of a point below Pakistan
*It has been a swift fall for the defending world champions
MELBOURNE: The embattled Australian team has slipped to a 34-year low in the ICC ODI rankings, dropping to sixth place following back-to-back defeats against England in the ongoing five-match series.
With losses to the world no.1 ODI team in London and Cardiff, Australia have fallen to 102 rankings points to sit a fraction of a point below 2017 Champions Trophy winners Pakistan.
It has been a swift fall for the defending world champions.
Less than two years ago they were ranked no.1 heading into an away series against South Africa. But when an under-strength squad with a group of rookie fast bowlers was whitewashed 5-0 by the Proteas (the first time Australia had lost a bilateral series 5-0), cracks were revealed in a 50-over game plan that suddenly looked dated, 'cricket.com.au' wrote.
That was particularly the case in comparison to a revamped England, who were smashing record totals and rising in the rankings as Australia's lofty status slipped.
Despite home successes against New Zealand (3-0) and Pakistan (4-1) that followed the disaster in South Africa, Australia have won just nine times (eight at home) out of 23 completed ODIs since to ultimately find themselves in their current predicament.