Clarke aims to build on Australia’s lead at top of table

Tuesday, 2 August 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Australia captain Michael Clarke has revealed that he is determined for his side to maintain its lead at the top of the Reliance ICC ODI Rankings table.

Following the annual update of the Reliance ICC ODI Championship, Australia has extended its lead at the top of the table to 12 points, with Sri Lanka and India leading the chasing pack.

Clarke said that his side is looking to maintain its position in the table and is already building towards the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 which will be held in Australia and New Zealand. “This Australian side is extremely proud to be ranked the number one one-day side in the world. However, we realise there is some significant work to be done if this is to remain the case,” said Clarke. “Being knocked out of the ICC Cricket World Cup at the quarter-final stage was very disappointing and our group has already started its planning to reclaim the title on our home shores. “This summer in Australia will be a great stepping stone towards this aim as we take on World Cup champions India and runners-up Sri Lanka in a return of the tri-series competition throughout Australia.

“The 50-over game proved itself an exciting and unpredictable format during the tournament on the sub-continent and we are looking forward to the fans supporting what we are sure will be another great event in 2015.” The annual rankings update is carried out to ensure the Reliance ICC ODI Championship table continues to reflect recent form. As such, the new table only includes results from matches played after 1 August 2009, with older results from between 1 August 2008 - 31 July 2009 being discarded.

Despite capturing the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, India falls one place to third in the updated rankings. This is due to the fact that in the 2008-09 rating year, now dropped, India won 17 ODIs and lost only five games, which was easily the best record during that period. In the same year Australia won 11 and lost 11 ODIs and so now Michael Clarke?s side are no longer penalised for that relatively poor year. In the past 12 months, India has lost nine ODIs, including its last two ODIs against eighth ranked West Indies and one in the group stages of the ICC Cricket World Cup, and has a win-loss ratio that is poorer than World Cup finalists Sri Lanka and quarter finalists Australia and South Africa.

Note that the rankings give equal weight to all ODIs played over the year, with no extra points for performances in the ICC Cricket World Cup.

The number one ranked side in the Reliance ICC ODI Championship on 1 April 2012 will receive US $175,000, while the second placed side will earn US $75,000.