Australia would launch their campaign to win their fifth ICC Cricket World Cup title when the co-hosts enter the 11th edition of the game's pinnacle 50-over tournament as the number-one-ranked side on the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings.
Australia would feature on the opening day of the tournament on 14 February in Melbourne when they lock horns with England, currently placed at the fifth position.
Earlier on the same day in Christchurch, co-host and sixth-ranked New Zealand would go head to head with former champion and fourth-placed Sri Lanka, with just five ratings points separating the two sides.
The Australians enjoy a comfortable six-point advantage over their closest rival and defending champion India, who would square off against traditional rival and seventh-ranked Pakistan in Adelaide.
Also on Sunday, 15 February in Hamilton, third-ranked South Africa would take on continental rival Zimbabwe, who currently sit in 10th position and trail the title favourites by 55 ratings points.
Two-time former champion and eight-ranked West Indies would meet 12th-ranked Ireland in Nelson on Monday, 16 February with 60 ratings points separating the two sides.
Australia had also started as the top-ranked side in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in the subcontinent. However, it was Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side that lifted the trophy in Mumbai after entering the competition in second position and 12 ratings points behind Australia.
Australia not only has the home advantage this time around, they also enjoy a winning momentum, having won 17 ODIs with just five defeats and one no-result since January 2014.
Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings ahead of the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is as follows:
1. Australia
2. India
3. South Africa
4. Sri Lanka
5. England
6. New Zealand
7. Pakistan
8. West Indies
9. Bangladesh
10. Zimbabwe
11. Afghanistan
12.