Cricket: Australia just one spot ahead of Afghanistan in T20 rankings

Australia are having to fend off minnows in the world T20 rankings. Photo / photosport

Usually atop world cricket, Australia are facing the strange feeling of being ahead of only the minnows in the latest ICC T20 world rankings.

The Steve Smith-captained side have slipped to eighth in the latest rankings, after a 3-0 series whitewash against India.

Only minnows Afghanistan, Scotland, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Zimbabwe and Ireland rank below Australia, only a month away from the T20 World Cup in India.

However, had Australia won the home series against India they would have risen from second to first on the official table.

Australia's recent tormentor - Virat Kohli - saw his stunning series average of 199 leap him to the title of the best T20 batsman in the world, while Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson sit fifth and sixth respectively.

New Zealand sit in fifth on the T20 world rankings, which fluctuate wildly from series to series.

However, Australia are still far-and-away the world's best one day side, leading the world rankings with 128 points, 15 clear of India in second.

New Zealand sit in third, just one point further back. Williamson again features prominently in the ODI batting rankings, in fourth, while Guptill is in ninth.

The only Australian in the top ten is big-hitting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

The bowling rankings also feature Kiwis, with Trent Boult still leading the world, and Matt Henry in seventh.

India lead the test world rankings, with the Black Caps sitting in sixth.