Australia’s stunning Ashes win and series defeat of South Africa has seen it reclaim the No.1 Test cricket ranking for the first time in five years.
With Australia also still the top rated one day international side, it can claim to be the top cricketing nation in the world.
The official team rankings were released on Thursday by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
It is the first time since December 2008 that Australia has been ranked No.1 in Tests and ODIs at the same time.
Australia last held the top Test ranking in August 2009, when it was displaced after losing the Ashes series 2-1 to England.
South Africa had held the No.1 position since August 2012 but in the latest table, Australia gained eight ratings points to move up from 115 to 123.
That was equal to South Africa, who dropped from 127 to be level on 123, but Australia moved ahead by a fraction of a point.
With the 2010-11 defeats dropped from ranking calculations – a period in which Australia lost to India and England, and the 2012-13 series defeat to India having half its weighting, Michael Clarke’s side was able to make its move.
Clarke was delighted with the turnaround in Australia’s fortunes.
“We are incredibly proud to be the number-one ranked team in the world in both Test and ODI cricket, which are two of the team’s most important goals,” he said.
“There has been an enormous amount of hard work and effort on and off the field that has led to this result.
“However, the true test of a great side is sustained success and now our goal is to maintain these rankings and continue to play great cricket as we lead into challenging Test series against Pakistan and India, and the ICC Cricket World Cup at home.
After losing last year’s Ashes series in England 3-0, following a tumultuous period in which coach Mickey Arthur was sacked, Australian cricket has gone from strength to strength.
While replacement Darren Lehmann endured that tough campaign he quickly turned things around with Australia sweeping their return series against England 5-0 during the last summer.
His side then scored an impressive 2-1 away series win over South Africa.
The only anomaly for the side remains the Twenty20 format where Australia failed to make it out of the group stages at this year’s World Cup in Bangladesh and is ranked sixth in the world.
In Test format England moved up one place to third while the Australians edge India, then Sri Lanka in the ODI rankings.
ICC Rankings as of May 1
Test Rankings
Rank (+/-) Team Rating (+/-)
1 (+1) Australia 123 (+8)
2 (-1) South Africa 123 (-4)
3 (+1) England 104 (-3)
4 (+1) Pakistan 103 (+3)
5 (-2) India 102 (-10)
6 (+1) New Zealand 92 (+5)
7 (-1) Sri Lanka 90 (+1)
8 (-) West Indies 76 (-11)
9 (-) Zimbabwe 40 (+6)
10 (-) Bangladesh 21 (+2)ODI Rankings
Rank (+/-) Team Rating (+/-)
1 (-) Australia 115 (-2)
2 (-) India 112 (-1)
3 (-) Sri Lanka 111 (-1)
4 (+1) England 110 (+2)
5 (-1) South Africa 109 (-1)
6 (-) Pakistan 100 (-1)
7 (-) New Zealand 98 (+4)
8 (-) West Indies 94 (+4)
9 (-) Bangladesh 73 (-6)
10 (-) Zimbabwe 61 (+6)
11 (-) Ireland 34 (-4)
12 (-) Afghanistan 34 (+4)
Aussie Opener
Guest
What's the point of this? The point is - We are incredibly reliant on Johnson, Without him, would we have even won the Ashes ? DeVilliers, while a sensational player, is one of many in SA.
Nudge
Guest
Yes but we have just smashed the previously ranked number 1 and 2 teams 7-1
jammel
Guest
Good to see! Well done to Pup and the boys, and Darren Lehmann! A lot of this is of course attributable to Mitchell Johnson. But just as much I think is down to Harris as well. And then there's been good contributions from Warner, Clarke, Smith, Haddin, Siddle and Lyon. I think ratings obviously can't dictate results of series - which is why Pakistan v Australia will be so interesting. Likewise, if there was a impending India v Australia series in India. But I do think Australia is currently the best Test and ODI team in the world. If we beat Pakistan we could win a few series….
Johnno
Guest
No one cares about test cricket rankings only 4 good test teams, all the same standard. Same old same old, and in 6 months i'll be India. And so it will be Australia again, big deal.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
I'll stay tuned Ronan, though congratulations on the being the razor blade in my caramel, haha. But honestly I agree. Two won series and we're top in the world, after 4-0 to india and 3-0 to England just last year.
jammel
Guest
Look forward to it Ronan with interest!
JGK
Roar Guru
I think this shows that the ratings system is flawed. In the past 12 months we've been whitewashed by India and thrashed in a 5 Test series by England.
jameswm
Guest
I dunno - India just dropped 10 points.
Chui
Guest
Careful Ronan, it's sound a little 'A Current Affair'. 'On tomorrow's show, we'll show you how to save thousands on your mortgage while cooking a three course dinner that those pesky dole bludgers just dream about' :)
Clark
Guest
Good to see the Black Caps move up, they had a great summer. The issue with the rankings is the fact that higher teams usually just play eachother, which means there is little movement in the rankings as a whole
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Australia don't deserve this number one ranking. Read The Roar tomorrow for my opinion on why.
jameswm
Guest
Woo hoo well done boys. How long till we next play India in India in a test series? If we beat SA in SA, hard to see who will beat us and where. Poms will of course do a lot better next time in England. Pakistan away is obviously massive. What a turnaround from the away Ashes and India performances.
jameswm
Guest
What's the point of this? Any team is weaker without their best players. Take ABDV out of the SAfrican team and see how they go.
jameswm
Guest
Nah outright 1st - if only by a frafction of a point.
Aussie Opener
Guest
Artificial. Without Johnson ? # 4 , maybe ?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Tremendous effort from Boof and the boys, after the Ashes series in England we dropped to 5th, a fantastic turnaround.
Clark
Guest
Joint 1st....
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Just hate how 20/20 has bu**ered up the rest of our cricket. When will we ever learn.
Nudge
Guest
Wow, didn't know that was going to happen. That's huge. If we can beat pakistan I can see us being number 1 for a long time now.