Smith can go top of ODI rankings

Graeme Smith has a chance to close the gap on MS Dhoni and Michael Hussey at the top of the ODI batting rankings. Smith held the top-spot briefly in 2008 before falling behind Dhoni and Hussey but has enjoyed a productive year, scoring 434 runs in 10 matches opening the innings.

Team-mate Dale Steyn has an opportunity to the climb to the top of the bowling rankings. Currently at six, his best ever ranking, Steyn has five games to challenge the spinners, Daniel Vettori, Shakib al-Hasan and Ray Price in the top-three.

A clean sweep for South Africa will put them two points behind Australia at second in the table. Their opponents England recently lost to Australia 6-1 so Graeme Smith's side must have a reasonable chance of going unbeaten.

England, however, have won their last five completed 50-over outings against South Africa and if they continued the run to take the series five nil, they would climb to third in the rankings. But for a side that has been woefully inconsistent over the last decade, it seems unlikely.