Australia have dropped to third in the world one-day international rankings, their lowest position in the seven-year history of the system.

South Africa lead the table, with India moving into second for the first time since the International Cricket Council ODI Championship was introduced in October 2002.

Ricky Ponting’s side trails 3-1 in the five-match series against South Africa, but a win in Friday’s fifth game at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium would lift the four-time World Cup winners back into second spot.

Australia, who lost their one-day series at home against South Africa 4-1 in January, are third on 121 points, one point behind India with South Africa on 127.

The 40-year-old former Zimbabwe and Essex batsman was unveiled as the man to lead England’s bid to win the Ashes at a press conference at Lord’s on Wednesday. He was the overwhelming favourite to be given the job after stepping in as caretaker when Peter Moores was sacked in January."We are underdogs for this series but there’s a little bit of time for us to build up some more momentum."