Proteas 0.54 from No 1

Cape Town - World champions India have retained their No 1 ranking in the ICC ODI rankingsfollowing the conclusion of their series against England and the triangular series in Zimbabwe.

India surged to the top of the table on Saturday, August 30 after winning the Nottingham ODI against England. Although India lost the fifth ODI at Headingley on Friday, South Africa’s victory in the final of the triangular series on Saturday was not enough to denying India holding onto the No 1 position by a fraction of a point.

India and South Africa are equal at 113 ratings points, but when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point, India have 113.49 compared to South Africa’s 112.96. Had South Africa defeated Australia on Tuesday, September 2, then they would've claimed the No 1 position.

Australia had needed to beat South Africa in the final to regain their No 1 spot, but the defeat meant they finished on equal points with Sri Lanka (111). When the ratings were calculated beyond the decimal point, Sri Lanka were ranked third and Australia fourth.

Australia entered the series in the No 1 position, but their three-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe cost them three valuable ratings points, which resulted in them dropping to 111 ratings points.

With 160 days to go to the Cricket World Cup 2015, ODI cricket between Full Members will now resume in October, when India host the West Indies in a five-ODI series, Australia travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to lock horns with Pakistan in a three-match series and New Zealand will play host to South Africa in a three-match series.

Schedule of forthcoming ODIs:
 
Pakistan v Australia
October 7 – First ODI, Sharjah
October 10 – Second ODI, Dubai
October 12 – Third ODI, Abu Dhabi
 
India v West Indies
October 8 – First ODI, Kochi
October 11 – Second ODI, Visakhapatnam
October 14 – Third ODI, Cuttack
October 17 – Fourth ODI, Kolkata
October 20 – Fifth ODI, Dharmasala
 
New Zealand v South Africa
October 21 – First ODI, Mount Maunganui
October 24 – Second ODI, Mount Maunganui
October 27 – Third ODI, Hamilton

ICC ODI team rankings (as on September 6, after England v India and triangular series in Zimbabwe)

1. India 113                                                                       
2. South Africa 113
3. Sri Lanka 111
4. Australia 111
5. England 107
6. Pakistan 100
7. New Zealand 98
8. West Indies 96
9. Bangladesh 69
10. Zimbabwe 58
11. Afghanistan 42
12. Ireland 33