Which is our best national team? Sorry for the traditionalists, but it's not the cricketers.

01 Football (Men's)

With a place in next year's Asian Cup finals safe in their pockets and the big one in South Africa now only a few months away, we have no better national team than the Socceroos. Focus now turns to the make up of the squad for the World Cup and whether Pim Verbeek will punt on the precociously-talented Tommy Oar, the 18-year-old Harry Kewell clone, who starred against Indonesia last week.

02 Cricket (Men's)

Unbeaten at home, against admittedly rank opposition during the summer just gone. The Kiwis are giving the Australians a harder time of it, as they always do over there, but for most of us, we'll awake from our cricketing slumber when England arrives here next summer.

03 Basketball (Women's)

Comfortably ranked third in the world, behind the Americans and Russia. This is a world championship year and with the WNBL season now done, the build up to Turkey in August begins in earnest. The hope is that there are no injuries for those on the Opals about to embark on another WNBA season.

04 Hockey (Men's)

The second best team in the world according to the rankings, but with a win at the Champions Trophy, held in Melbourne last December. Should they back that up with a win at the World Cup, now taking place in India, we might be tempted to move the Kookaburras up a notch.

05 Football (Women's)

We might be selling the Matildas short, here with their no.14 FIFA ranking. Next up for them is the Asian Championships in May, but with four Asian teams ranked above them, it will be a tough slog. The Asian titles will also serve as the World Cup qualifiers.

06 Hockey (Women's)

The days when Australia long dominated women's hockey are long gone, although a number five ranking is still healthy. But a 2-1 series loss to Korea in Perth last week was disappointing, ahead of a World Cup qualifier which at this stage, is slated to be played in Chile.

07 Tennis (Women's)

The 3-2 win over Spain the week after the Australian Open paved the way for an away clash with the Ukraine on Anzac Day weekend. Win that, and we're back in the World Group for the first time since 2004.

08 Basketball (Men's)

All eyes are on Turkey, with the world champions underway in August. The Boomers go in ranked 11, but have Germany, Argentina and Serbia in their group. Fingers crossed that Andrew Bogut, David Andersen and Patty Mills get through their NBA seasons unscathed.

09 Cricket (Women's)

Just knocked off the Kiwis to win the Rose Bowl, but really, it's not an international sport of major significance.

10 Tennis (Men's)

Schoolchildren were shipped in from around Melbourne last Friday to fill the stands at Margaret Court Arena for the Davis Cup tie we won 5-0. The decline and fall of Australian tennis can be encapsulated right there. Beat Japan and then beat the next team to get back to the World Group and this ranking might improve.