Australia to enter World Cup in top spot in ODI rankings

Dubai, Feb 2 (IANS) Australia will enter the 2015 World Cup in pole position, according to the latest International Cricket Council's (ICC) One-Day International (ODI) team rankings released Monday following their 112-run tri-series final victory over England, also involving India, in Perth Sunday.

The tri-series win also allows Australia a six-point advantage over reigning World Cup champions India, at second, followed by South Africa at the third spot, with a single point being the difference between the second and the third.

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New Zealand and Pakistan are at the sixth and seventh positions respectively.

In the ODI batsmen rankings, Australia's Glenn Maxwell has moved up 19 places to a career high 17th position and is the highest mover in the top 20 after scoring 152 runs in five matches.

England's Ian Bell, who was the highest runs scorer (247 runs) in the tri-series has also vaulted 13 places to the 25th position. South Africa's A.B. de Villiers remains in the top spot, 24 points clear of his team-mate Hashim Amla.

In the ODI bowlers rankings, England's James Anderson has moved up two places to the fourth spot after taking seven wickets in the tri-series.

Australia's Mitchell Starc, who was the top wicket-taker in the series (12 wickets for 196 in five matches) has moved up five places to seventh.

The team ranking:

Rank Team Rating

1 Australia 120

2 India 114

3 South Africa 113

4 Sri Lanka 109

5 England 104

6 New Zealand 101

7 Pakistan 96

8 West Indies 94

9 Bangladesh 75

10 Zimbabwe 53

11 Afghanistan 41

12 Ireland 34