India needs whitewash to grab top ODI spot

First Published : 09 Jan 2013, 18:01
Last Modified : 09 Jan 2013, 18:01

By: BCCI Staff in Mumbai

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England will be aiming to carry its Test form into the ODI format and win its first series in India in 28 years, and, in so doing, cement its status as the number-one ranked side on the ICC ODI Championship table.

England plays India in a five-match series starting on Friday, 11 January in Rajkot, while South Africa will play New Zealand in a three-match series starting on 19 January in Paarl.

England currently leads second-ranked South Africa by a fraction of a point, but will take an outright lead on the championship table if it wins the series, irrespective of the results of the South Africa-New Zealand and Australia-Sri Lanka series (starting on Friday in Melbourne).

However, England’s failure to win the series will give both India and South Africa opportunities to reclaim the top spot.

If India wins all five matches of the series, it will jump two places to claim the top spot, while South Africa can only go top if it wins all three matches against New Zealand and India wins its series, but fails to complete a clean sweep.

ICC ODI Player Rankings

No fewer than seven batsmen featuring in the top 10 of the ICC ODI Player Rankings for ODI batsmen are likely to figure in the India-England, Australia-Sri Lanka and South Africa-New Zealand series.

Hashim Amla currently leads the pack with his team-mate AB de Villiers second. India’s Virat Kohli in third spot leads his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni by 35 ratings points, and he will not only be aiming to strengthen his position with a strong performance against England, but also put pressure on South Africa’s ODI captain.

It is expected that the series will result in fewer changes at the top of the ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, where number-one ranked Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan is currently enjoying a comfortable lead over second-placed teammate Mohammad Hafeez. As many as five of the top 10 are expected to be in action during the three series, including Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne Morkel, Steven Finn, Ravichandran Ashwin and Dale Steyn.

ICC ODI Championship (as on 9 January)