India need a whitewash of Sri Lanka to be No. 1 ODI team

Colombo, July 19 (IANS) India go into the five-match series in Sri Lanka with a chance to leap from their current fourth place to number one in the ICC One-day International team rankings.

India last held the number one position briefly in September 2009 but if they achieve a clean sweep against their hosts now, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side will unseat current table-toppers Australia.

The series, which starts in Hambantota Saturday, brings together the finalists of the 2011 World Cup, held in Mumbai last year. India won that match by six wickets to lift the trophy for the first time in 28 years.

After years of domination by Australia, the ranking table is now extremely tight after Michael Clarke's team suffered a 0-4 defeat in England recently. Only two rating points separate the top four teams with South Africa and England sandwiched between Australia and fourth placed India.

The Sri Lanka versus India series again utilises the three grounds which are a legacy of the last World Cup. The first two ODIs are in Hambantota, followed by two at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and the final match in Pallekele August 4.

Rankings

Rank Team Rating

1 Australia 119

2 South Africa 118

3 England 118

4 India 117

5 Sri Lanka 112

6 Pakistan 103

7 West Indies 87

8 New Zealand 83

9 Bangladesh 67

10 Zimbabwe 46

11 Ireland 36

12 Netherlands 15

13 Kenya 8