Australia is still the No.1 cricket nation based on ratings released by the International Cricket Council.

The world champion Australian one day international side holds a massive 23 points lead over Sri Lanka in the ICC rankings with New Zealand a point further back in third.

After a successful 5-0 sweep of the West Indies in the Caribbean, South Africa has risen to fourth on the rankings for the first time since July 2004.

West Indies went into the series only two points behind South Africa on the ratings 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, reflected in Brian Lara's drop of 14 places to 22nd on the batting table, his lowest one-day rating for four years.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting and vice-captain Adam Gilchrist are the top two batsmen on the ratings list ahead of South African skipper Graeme Smith.

Glenn McGrath leads the bowling rankings with Australian and NSW teammate Brett Lee moving up one place into fourth after South African Shaun Pollock dropped to fifth.

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