India lose No. 1 ODI rank to Australia

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Sydney, Nov 23: India have lost their No. 1 ODI rank to Australia after the George Bailey-led side today defeated South Africa by two wickets in Sydney for a 4-1 series victory.

India had reclaimed the top ranking after making a 5-0 clean sweep against Sri Lanka recently. But Australia, with just 0.2 rating points ahead, have pushed India to second.

Four-time world champions Australia returned to the top of the ICC ODI Team Rankings after defeating South Africa 4-1 in the five-match ODI series, which concluded in Sydney on Sunday, ICC said in a media release today.

Bailey's side had started the series in third position on 114 ratings points and has finished on equal points with India on 117 ratings points. However, when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point, Australia is just 0.2 clear of India and five ratings points clear of South Africa, who have dropped one place to third, ICC added.

South Africa had moved ahead of Australia last month, following its 2-0 victory over New Zealand.

Australia, who have enjoyed a total of 498 weeks at the top pedestal since the current rankings system was introduced in October 2002, will now participate in a triangular series, also featuring world champions India and England. This series will start in Melbourne on 16 January and will conclude in Perth on 1 February.

With just one ranking point separating them, fourth placed Sri Lanka host fifth placed England in a seven-ODI series which starts in Colombo on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Bangladesh are currently facing Zimbabwe in a five-match ODI series.

ICC ODI Team Rankings (as on 23 November, after the conclusion of series between Australia and South Africa, and first ODI between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe)

• 1 Australia 117
• 2 India 117
• 3 South Africa 112
• 4 Sri Lanka 108
• 5 England 107
• 6 Pakistan 98
• 7 New Zealand 96
• 8 West Indies 96
• 9 Bangladesh 71
• 10 Zimbabwe 56
• 11 Afghanistan 42
• 12 Ireland 3

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