Race for top ODI spot heating up ahead of WC

Australia and India would have a chance to put a gap between one another on the top of the Reliance ODI Team Rankings ahead of the World Cup, when the two teams compete alongside England in a tri-series, starting on Friday in Sydney.

Friday's opening clash at the SCG would see Australia host England with Michael Clarke's men keen to edge a point clear of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side at the top of the ODI team rankings.

It would be a dress rehearsal for the eagerly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 opening match, which would witness the same sides play each other in exactly 30 days' time in Melbourne.

Following their 5-0 home series victory over Sri Lanka in November, reigning champion India would be bidding to gain further momentum and become only the third side in ICC Cricket World Cup history to successfully defend their title, after West Indies in 1975 and 1979 and Australia, winning three times in succession between 1999 and 2007.

Meanwhile, South Africa, bidding to lift the 50-over title for the first time after reaching the semifinals when Australia and New Zealand last hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup back in 1992, welcomes West Indies to Durban on Friday in the first of a five-match ODI series, with two of the world's top three batsmen in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen set to feature.

South African captain AB de Villiers is in pole position in the batting rankings on 887 points and the wicketkeeper batsman holds a 25-point advantage over second placed India batsman Virat Kohli, with Hashim Amla one place further back in third spot.

There are several permutations that could emerge over the coming weeks as New Zealand and Sri Lanka are also battling it out in their seven-match series, with the co-hosts of the tournament currently holding a 1-0 lead after their three-wicket victory in the first ODI on Sunday.

After this series, New Zealand would complete their ICC Cricket World Cup preparations when they host Pakistan, who lifted the CWC trophy back in 1992, in two ODI's ahead of their opening game of the tournament in Christchurch against Sri Lanka, also on 14 February.

The Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings as on 14 January, ahead of Australia, England and India tri-Series, South Africa-West Indies and after first ODI between New Zealand-Sri Lanka are:

1. Australia-117 points

2. India-117 points

3. South Africa-112 points

4. Sri Lanka-109 points

5. England-104 points

6. New Zealand-99 points

7. Pakistan-97 points

8. West Indies-96 points

9. Bangladesh-75 points

10. Zimbabwe-53 points

11. Ireland-39 points

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