A fantastic start to the World Cup has seen Ireland move above Afghanistan in the ICC rankings ahead of Tuesday's high-profile encounter against South Africa in Canberra.

Phil Simmons' charges went into the tournament in 12th place on the ICC list however wins over West Indies and UAE have steered them two points ahead of the Afghans with the sights now firmly fixed on Zimbabwe in 10th.

The gap is ten at present but with points awarded dependent on the quality of opposition, Ireland have several chances to narrow the margin before the tournament ends.

Australia are currently the top ranked side in ODI cricket while England's disastrous start to the World Cup has seen them leap-frogged by New Zealand; Eoin Morgan's side dropping a place to 6th.

There has been good news in the individual categories as well with Paul Stirling up to 34th in the batting list following that knock in the opening match. Stirling is comfortably the top ranked Associate batsman on the ICC list while Kevin O'Brien comes in at 42nd overall with Ed Joyce moving up 12 places to 58th.

Unsurprisingly the cast is headed by AB De Villiers and testimony to the challenge Ireland will be facing on Tuesday afternoon, Hashim Amla makes it a 1-2 for the Proteas at the top.

In the bowling stakes George Dockrell is also the highest placed Associate coming in at an impressive 28th in the world- one place behind Shahid Afridi and four behind Trent Boult.

Tilikaratne Dilshan, the new number one all-rounder is one of an impressive list behind the Ireland spinner in the rankings that also includes Dilshan's team-mate Lasith Malinga.

Former Ireland pace-man Boyd Rankin is just outside the top 50 with Kevin O'Brien and Paul Stirling tied in 71st place.