The Proteas have dropped to third place on the annual ICC ODI Rankings after England leaped to top spot.

South Africa, who were second, lost four points – from 117 to 113 – leaving them nine points adrift of India in second place and only one point ahead of fourth-placed New Zealand.

The Proteas were comprehensively beaten 5-1 in the series against India in February and March.

England’s rise up the table is largely because of a dreadful 2014-15 season, which saw them winning only seven out of 25 ODIs against other Full Members, being dropped from the latest calculations while those from the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons are weighted at 50%.

The remaining places are unchanged, meaning that the current top 10-ranked sides will be playing in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. However, there have been some significant changes in points.

World champions Australia, who meet the Proteas in three ODIs in November, have lost eight points to go down to 104 in fifth position and are only two points ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2017 winners Pakistan, who have gained six points.

In the T20 Ranking, South Africa gained three points – as did West Indies, both on 114 – but the Proteas hold sixth place on decimal points.

Pakistan (130) and Australia (126) remain in the first two positions without a change in their points total while India have gained two points to reach 123. New Zealand (116) are unchanged on points while England (115) have gained a solitary point.

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix