Dubai: Following their 112-run tri-series final victory over England in Perth on Sunday, Australia would enter the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in the top spot in the latest Reliance ICC ODI team rankings, which were released on Monday.
Australia’s victory means that they currently hold a six-point advantage over second-placed India, who also featured in the series. India, the reigning ICC Cricket World Cup champions, are a point clear of South Africa who lie a further point behind on 113 points.
With a number of ODI series concluding in recent days, the second and final match between New Zealand and Pakistan is set to be played on Tuesday, with the Brendon McCullum’s team holding a 1-0 lead following its seven-wicket win in Wellington on Saturday.
A victory for sixth-placed New Zealand would see it reduce England’s lead to two points, while a win for seventh-placed Pakistan would level the series 1-1 and reduce the gap on the Black Caps to three points.
The 14 competing teams would then complete their final ICC Cricket World Cup warm-up fixtures ahead of the beginning of the tournament on February 14.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Glenn Maxwell has moved up 19 places to a career high 17th position in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen and is the highest mover in the top 20 after scoring 152 runs in five matches, while James Faulkner (up 14 places to a career high 21st) is just two ratings points behind South Africa’s Faf du Plessis in 20th place.
In the ICC Players Rankings for ODI Bowlers, England’s James Anderson has moved up two places to fourth spot after taking seven wickets in the tri-series, at an average of just under 20.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who was the top wicket-taker in the series, has moved up five places to seventh, while England’s top wicket-taker, Steven Finn (11 wickets for 235 in five matches), has progressed 14 places to 12th. Moeen Ali has also progressed his rankings by 41 places to 56th after taking seven wickets for 200 in the series.
Meanwhile, in the Reliance ICC ODI Player Rankings for ODI All-rounders, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan has regained the number one ranking after moving up two places, 10 points clear of Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews in second place.
The Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings as on 2nd February, after the ODI series between Australia, India and England, and before the second ODI between New Zealand and Pakistan are:
1. Australia
2. India
3. South Africa
4. Sri Lanka
5. England
6. New Zealand
7. Pakistan
8. West Indies
9. Bangladesh
10. Zimbabwe
