Australia lost five out of his last six ODIs, four of them against succession. It lost two against England in the final and two against New Zealand and lost both the series. As a consequence it slipped in rank from 1 to 2. S. Africa is no. 1.
Victories and defeats are part of the game. Australia was no. 1 for five years and nobody expected such fall. Ten wickets loss to New Zealand was its worst in history.
Some top players were not in the team due to injuries Such things happen to all teams. Other players take their places. There are ups and downs. Dropping catches and fielding lapses had a role in the fall of Australia.
Australia has done well to be one the top for five years. They can be on the top again. Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. At one time West Indies dominated world cricket. They won the World Cup in 1975 and 1969. Later India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1983, 1992 and 1996 respectively. Australia won the World Cup in 1987, 1999 and 2003. England reached the finals in 1979, 1987 and 1992 and did not win.
Australia’s fall makes World Cup 2007 interesting. Any team can beat any other team. So far no host country has won the World Cup. Sri Lanka won the Cup in Pakistan. England, S. Africa, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and New Zealand have not won the World Cup. There are teams from non-Test playing nations taking part in the World Cup. It is unlikely that a team from a non-Test playing nation will win the World Cup.