Cricket World Cup 2019: Power Rankings, week five

OPINION: We are in the final stretch of Cricket World Cup pool play and everything is still up for grabs

It's been an interesting week, with England pummelled by their press, before rebounding with a crushing win over the previously undefeated Indians. 

Australia flexed their muscles, dominating New Zealand, who have come crashing back down to earth with consecutive losses.

Granted, if a few things went their way, they should have beaten Pakistan, but Australia exposed the gap between the Blackcaps and the top three sides.

As for the rest, only Pakistan can prevent the Blackcaps or England from semi-final cricket.

Their best chance? Hope England slips up against New Zealand, or they’ll need a big win against Bangladesh and hope the Poms crush the Blackcaps.

cwc power rankings
Photo credit: Newshub.

1-Australia 

How good do they look? 

There is still a soft underbelly in their batting lineup, but Alex Carey is proving to be the new Michael Bevan by cleaning up the middle-order mess. 

Mitchell Starc is on fire, but India are still a bad match-up for them on English wickets.

2-India

Still the team to beat, but the slip-up against England has the Aussies edging them this week. 

With the wickets getting better, it’s hard to see any bowling line-up restricting them to under 300. 

They will want to avoid the hosts in the semi-finals.

3-England

Great return to form against India and it’s no-coincidence that Jason Roy’s return brought them back to winning ways. 

Their bowling is a concern, outside of Archer. 

Not convinced they can restrict Australia or India to under 300, but they back themselves to score more than that, so we'll see what happens.

4-New Zealand

Only reason Pakistan is below them is NZ are in a fairly commanding position to qualify. 

Win and they're through, lose a close one and they're through, but the Blackcaps have been hampered by a lack of selection creativity and now we they have run out of time to figure out their best XI. 

Even if Taylor, Boult and Williamson fire, it’s hard to see them beating the top three.

5-Pakistan 

Have they left their run too late? Probably. 

If England lose or win big, then they could still progress into the semis. 

They have world-class players throughout and put on a clinic across the board against New Zealand. 

The big three will be hoping they don’t scrape in.

6-Bangladesh

A brave effort has come to an end and you’d have to say their washout against Sri Lanka was pivotal in them not qualifying. 

If they can find a world-class pace bowler, look out for the Tigers in four years, because they have every other base covered.

7-South Africa

Can still have a say in how the semi-finals shape up, if they beat Australia on the weekend. 

Big disappointment, although they have played in well three of their last four games.

8-Sri Lanka

They have been so hot and cold. 

Awful for the first two weeks, insipid against South Africa, but utterly brilliant against the West Indies and England, with two washouts among all of that. 

They are still struggling to find genuine quality at the top of the order.

9-West Indies

Just awful, aside from their openber against Pakistan and the first 40 overs against Australia. 

They almost pipped the Blackcaps, thanks to individual brilliance, but they have flattered to deceive for three weeks.

10-Afghanistan

Ran India and Pakistan close on slow wickets. 

If they can find a world-class batsman and decent quick, they could threaten more sides in four years.

Brad Lewis is a Newshub online sports producer. Joins us at 9:30pm Wednesday for live updates of the Blackcaps v England Cricket World Cup clash.