Bangalore: South Africa and Australia switch to the shorter format of the game this week with the beginning of their five-match ODI series in South Africa.
Graeme Smith’s side will go into the opening match at Kingsmead in Durban as the current holders of the number-one spot in the ICC ODI Championship and will be keen to maintain that position, an International Cricket Council (ICC) release said here on Thursday.
Ricky Ponting’s men will have a tough time knocking the Proteas off the top spot on their home turf. However, if the Australians win the series they will leapfrog them to the top of the table, the release added.
If Smith’s side was to win the series 5-0 it would cement its place at the top of the table by a further six points and if it wins with a margin of four wins or three wins, it would still maintain its top spot.
Should the series feature a tie and then each side wins two matches each, the South Africans will still keep the top ranking but will only be one point ahead of Australia.
Looking further down the table, the West Indies and England play their final ODI on Friday in St Lucia but neither side’s rankings will alter no matter who is victorious.
However, if the West Indies wins it will gain two ratings point but maintain its eighth place while England will remain in sixth place with a fraction of decimal-point lead on Sri Lanka.
If Andrew Strauss’s side wins the final ODI it will gain an extra rating point and keep its sixth place spot with a two point margin over Sri Lanka.
As regards to the ODI batsmen rankings, Australia’s Michael Hussey will be looking to reduce India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s lead at the top of the table.
Currently, the batsmen are 17 rating points apart, but some good performances from the 33-year-old could see India’s wicketkeeper feeling the heat from the Australian.
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