Australia to enter WC in top spot

Dubai, Feb 2: Australia will enter the 2015 World Cup in pole position, according to the latest Intertiol Cricket Council’s (ICC) One–Day Intertiol (ODI) team rankings released Monday following their 112–run tri–series fil victory over England, also involving India, in Perth on Sunday.

The tri–series win also allows Australia a six–point advantage over reigning World Cup champions India, at second, followed by South Africa at the third spot, with a single point being the difference between the second and the third. New Zealand and Pakistan are at the sixth and seventh positions respectively.

In the ODI batsmen rankings, Australia’s Glenn Maxwell has moved up 19 places to a career high 17th position and is the highest mover in the top 20 after scoring 152 runs in five matches.

England’s Ian Bell, who was the highest runs scorer (247 runs) in the tri–series has also vaulted 13 places to the 25th position. South Africa’s A.B. de Villiers remains in the top spot, 24 points clear of his team–mate Hashim Amla.

In the ODI bowlers rankings, England’s James Anderson has moved up two places to the fourth spot after taking seven wickets in the tri–series.

Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who was the top wicket–taker in the series (12 wickets for 196 in five matches) has moved up five places to seventh. IANS