KEY POINTS:
ADELAIDE - Australia's batsmen could potentially occupy the top five spots on the world one-day cricket rankings if they plunder the New Zealand bowlers in this week's Chappell-Hadlee series.
Captain Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden currently hold the top-three spots in the International Cricket Council (ICC) batting rankings but there is potential for Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke to join them, an ICC statement said.
The current fourth and fifth ranked batsmen, England's Kevin Pietersen and Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf, are currently involved in test series so can't improve their ODI rankings.
Hussey is currently ranked seventh and Clarke 12th.
New Zealand allrounder Scott Styris could also break into the top-20 with good performances in the three-match series starting here tomorrow.
In a reflection of New Zealand's thin batting ranks, Styris is their highest-ranked batsman at 23rd.
Captain Daniel Vettori could also overtake Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas into fourth on the world bowling rankings with a strong series.
New Zealand's highest-ranked bowler Shane Bond is second, but an abdominal strain has stopped him challenging South Africa's Shaun Pollock for the top spot.
A 0-3 series loss for New Zealand would still see them retain third place in the ODI rankings, just ahead of India, while Australia would move seven points clear of South Africa at the top.
But a repeat of New Zealand's 3-0 win in last season's Chappell-Hadlee series would see South Africa overtake Australia for top spot.
- NZPA
