Dubai , 4 March 2008 India gains three ratings points and is now just a fraction behind New Zealand
Australia ’s lead on top of the LG ICC ODI Championship Table was trimmed to the bare minimum after India clinched the tri-series in Brisbane on Tuesday.
Australia , which entered the series on 130 ratings points, dropped to 127 points, the same as second-placed South Africa but above Graeme Smith’s side when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.
The scenario has left South Africa ’s fate in its own hands as it goes head-to-head with Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series from 9 March. If the Proteas sweep the series, it will reclaim the top spot it surrendered to Ricky Ponting’s side during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies .
However, if Bangladesh manages to win just one game, Australia will open a two-point gap with South Africa which will drop to 125 ratings points.
With the last game of the series between South Africa and Bangladesh set to be played on 15 March in Mirpur , Australia has been confirmed as the top seed for this September’s ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan as the cut-off date for seedings is 12 March, six months before the scheduled start of the tournament.
South Africa, winner of the inaugural tournament in 1998 in Bangladesh, will be seeded second followed in order by New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and the West Indies in the eight-team tournament. The groupings will be announced on 12 March.
India , in sharp contrast, gained three ratings points from the tri-series and now sits alongside New Zealand on 113 points but behind Daniel Vettori’s side when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.
Sri Lanka , which was third team in the tri-series, dropped one ratings point to return home on 107 after failing to qualify for the final.
Plenty of movement in the LG ICC ODI Championship Table is on the cards over the coming weeks as six of the top eight teams will be involved in ODIs. India has a home series against South Africa while Australia is scheduled to tour Pakistan and the West Indies .
The West Indies, before hosting Australia , will play a two-Test and three ODI series against Sri Lanka . In the Northern Hemisphere summer New Zealand and South Africa will both tour England for Tests and ODIs.
Tenth-placed Ireland will also be in action with a three-match ODI series of Bangladesh scheduled for later this month.
For more information go to: http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/rankings/lg.html LG ICC ODI Championship (as of 4 March)
Rank Team Rating
1 Australia 127
2 South Africa 127
3 New Zealand 113
4 India 113
5 Pakistan 109
6 Sri Lanka 107
7 England 105
8 West Indies 96
9 Bangladesh 47
10 Ireland 28
11 Zimbabwe 18
12 Kenya 0
-ICC MEDIA RELEASE