If the Proteas manage a clean sweep in the three-match one-day series against minnows Bangladesh starting in Chittagong on Sunday, they would knock Ricky Ponting’s side off the perch.

Both Australia and South Africa are currently sitting on 127 ratings points but Graeme Smith’s men are ranked second when calculations are made to three decimal points.

“If the Proteas wins the series 3-0, they will stay on 127 ratings points but will finish ahead of Australia by 0.191 at the cut-off (date for the year-end rankings),” an ICC Press release said.

“The sides that lead the Test and ODI ladders on April 1, pocket USD 175,000 each for their achievements, while the sides that lie second collect USD 75,000 each,” it added.

Last year also, the South Africans had snatched the title just before the April 1 cut-off date, relegating Australia to second.

However, there is no threat to Australia’s dominance in Test cricket as they lead the field by 30 points.