As the number one ODI team on April 1 will be richer by $175,000 with the runners-up getting $75,000, the fight for first place have reached censorious position.
India geared to second place in ICC ODI rankings after Australia were pushed to the third spot following their defeat at the hands of New Zealand in Melbourne which helped India pip Australia. Beating Sri Lanka 4-0 in the ongoing ODI series also helped India to rise in the rankings. Australia not only slid down the rankings but also earned their fifth consecutive defeat at home. Thursday’s victory against Sri Lanka was the ninth win on the trot for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team, including the 5-0 verdict against England last year.
This is India’s best ranking ever, while South Africa, who had toppled Australia to grab the number one position, having 125 points, while New Zealand follow on fourth rank with 117 points. Pakistan is further down the ladder at fifth while England and Sri Lanka are sixth and seventh respectively.
Australia, who have been on the decline in the last few months, have just about managed to retain their place as the number one team in the longer version of the game despite losing the Test series at home to South Africa. In ICC Test Rankings, Australia is in first place while second placed South Africa would get a chance to topple Australia when they take on Ricky Ponting‘s men in a home series beginning later this month. India are third placed eagerly waiting to come forward.
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