ODI rankings battle heats up ahead of World Cup 2015

Dubai, Jan 14: Australia and India will have the chance to put daylight between one another at the top of the ICC ODI Team Rankings, when they compete alongside England in a tri-series, which starts in Sydney on Friday.

Friday's opening clash at the SCG will see Australia host England with Michael Clarke's men keen to edge a point clear of MS Dhoni's side at the top of the ODI team rankings.

It will be a dress rehearsal for the eagerly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 opening match, which will see the same sides play each other in exactly 30 days' time in Melbourne.

Following its 5-0 home series victory over Sri Lanka in November, reigning champion India will be bidding to gain further momentum and become only the third side in ICC Cricket World Cup history to successfully defend its title (after West Indies in 1975 and 1979 and Australia, who won the coveted prize three times in succession between 1999 and 2007).

Meanwhile, South Africa, bidding to lift the 50-over title for the first time after reaching the semi-finals when Australia and New Zealand last hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup back in 1992, welcomes West Indies to Durban on Friday in the first of a five-match ODI series, with two of the world's top three batsmen in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen set to feature.

Proteas captain AB de Villiers is in pole position in the batting rankings on 887 points and the 30-year-old Pretorian holds a 25-point advantage over second placed India batsman Virat Kohli, with Hashim Amla one place further back in third spot.

There are several permutations that could emerge over the coming weeks as New Zealand and Sri Lanka are also battling it out in their seven-match series, with the Black Caps currently holding a 1-0 lead after its three-wicket victory in the first ODI on Sunday.

After this series, New Zealand will complete its ICC Cricket World Cup preparations when it plays host to Pakistan - who lifted the CWC trophy back in 1992 - in two ODI's ahead of its opening game of the tournament in Christchurch against Sri Lanka, also on 14 February.

Forthcoming fixtures

Tri-Series

Friday, 16 Jan - Australia v England, Sydney (d/n)

Sunday, 18 Jan - Australia v India, Melbourne (d/n)

Tuesday, 20 Jan - England v India, Brisbane (d/n)

Friday, 23 Jan -Australia v England, Hobart (d/n)

Monday, 26 Jan - Australia v India, Sydney (d/n)

Friday, 30 Jan - England v India, Perth (d/n)

Sunday, 1 Feb - Final, Perth (d/n)

South Africa Vs West Indies

16 Jan - First ODI, Durban (d/n)

18 Jan - Second ODI, Johannesburg