Australians get an ICC ratings boost after ODI clean sweep

The crowds may have been small and the results didn't matter too much but the ICC did look upon the recent ODI series favourably.

Australia's new opening pair in David Warner and Travis Head had a great series, increasing their batting partnership average together into the 80s while posting an MCG record of 269 as both men reached triple figures ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

Warner has moved up one spot in the rankings putting him into the fifth spot overall after having dropped from, formerly having the number one position. With questions over his future in the Australian set-up, a century in the final match did him no disservice, especially as he is effectively openly campaigning for the T20 captaincy at this point.

His opening partner Travis Head made a great return to the ODI side, taking Aaron Finch's position and scoring 152 at the MCG to cement his spot in the team. His 208 runs in the series saw him move from 42nd in the rankings to 30th. A mighty effort considering his time out of this side.

Steve Smith now sits well inside the top ten after moving into seventh thanks to a couple of half-centuries in the first two matches. Smith has averaged 65 with the bat in ODIs over the last three years in what is quickly becoming his best format.

Although with some relatively weak opponents in the West Indies and South Africa coming up it could be a very big summer for the former Aussie captain.

Mitchell Starc now sits in fourth position in the bowling ranks after taking 4/47 in the most recent match he played in the series before being rested for the game at the MCG.

Adam Zampa is the other big bowler to make a sizeable move in the rankings. He now firmly sits within the top ten having moved up eight spaces to seventh. He has averaged just 19 with the ball over the last couple of years and has quickly become the most important member of the Australian ODI set-up.

However with no more Australian home ODI matches until 2024 it will be difficult for many Australians to keep their spots in these ICC rankings.