The reality sinks in; 3 Australian players dominate ICC ODI rankings; 5 total

dhobi_bhai · March 14, 2006, 12:15am

Ponting tops ODI batting rankings

DUBAI: Australian cricket team’s captain Ricky Ponting’s 164-run contribution at Johannesburg was not enough to secure his side the victory in the fifth and final One-day International (ODI) match against South Africa but it did push him to new record points tally at the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI batting rankings.

Ponting’s career-best score at Johannesburg has increased the lead he holds over his teammate Adam Gilchrist at top of the official table while fellow Australian Andrew Symonds has also reached a new personal best in climbing to the third place in batting rankings. He is also third in the list of all-rounders behind South Africa’s Shaun Pollock and England’s Andrew Flintoff.

The major mover in batting table is, not surprisingly, Herschelle Gibbs whose astonishing 175-run innings at Johannesburg helped him improve from 22nd to 11th over course of the five-match series against the Aussies.

Gibbs is now second ranked South African batsman behind skipper Graeme Smith who is back in top four after scoring 244 runs in the series. The high-scoring series finale at Johannesburg has had a negative impact on several bowlers with Aussie express bowler Brett Lee dropping out of the top three to the sixth place, well below the career-best ranking he held just over a month ago. On a brighter note for Australia, Nathan Bracken has moved up into top 10 for the first time.

The series victory means that South Africa are likely to be second-seeded side in the ICC Champions Trophy, to be played next October. This will ensure they avoid Australia in group phase of the event, to be staged in India.

Australia’s rating is lowest it has been since October 2003 but they still retain a comfortable 15 point lead over their nearest rivals. Further down the ICC ODI table, fight for the sixth place is becoming increasingly crucial as team that is seventh on April 1 will have to play off against eighth, ninth and tenth placed sides for right to take part in second round of the ICC Champions Trophy 2006. India, as hosts, will automatically qualify for the second stage of the ICC Trophy even if they are outside top six by April 1.

The News

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The LG ICC ODI Batting Rankings

```
       Ricky Ponting -       AUS      
```

2)         Adam Gilchrist     -       AUS
    
3)         Andrew Symonds     -       AUS
    
4)         Graeme Smith     -       SA
    
5)         Kumar Sangakkara     -       SL

Mahendra Dhoni - IND
1. ```
    Mike Hussey     -       AUS
```
8 ) Yuvraj Singh - IND

9 ) Michael Clarke - AUS
1. ```
    Rahul Dravid     -       IND
```

Believe me, as much as it is hard, for me as a Pakistani, to realize that there is absolutely no one from our current cream-of-the-crop batsmen in the top ten positions, the fact of the matter is (only from my point of view, of course), with all the enormous talk going around that Australia have been “de-throned” from their limelight, well, the facts point otherwise, as you can see. This is certainly not implying that come tomorrow, there could very well be a major drastic change in the above rankings area, but as of right now, as of current, and as of this moment, it should be realized and noted that with the top three positions are only worthy-enough for genuine top-of-the-line sportsmen, and the results are in front of you. As I mentioned earlier as well, come World Cup, I am sure Australia will continue to be the first team on the list of most people, regardless of the nations they originate from (or are living now).

Captain1 · March 14, 2006, 3:10pm