Australia retain top spot, England surge to fifth in ODI rankings

Dubai [UAE], Sept.5 (ANI):Australia and England have made significant progress in the ICC ODI Team Rankings after completing identical 4-1 series victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively. Australia scored a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the final match in Pallekele, while Pakistan earned a four-wicket consolation victory in the final match of the series in Cardiff. However, the Cardiff victory was not enough to prevent the green shirts from plummeting to their lowest-ever rating of 86 and, thereby, falling in serious danger of failing to qualify automatically for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Australia, aiming to reclaim the ICC Champions Trophy title to add to their World Cup trophy, when staged next year in the United Kingdom, have moved from 123 points to 124 points, and in doing so, have opened up an 11-point advantage over New Zealand. Sri Lanka have retained their sixth position but has dropped a point to finish on 101 points. Sri Lanka's one-point drop will interest seventh-placed Bangladesh, which is now just three points behind their Asian rival and has two upcoming three-match ODI series each against Afghanistan and England. If Bangladesh win all the three matches against Afghanistan, plus manages a series win against England, they will achieve their highest-ever ranking of sixth. Meanwhile, England, attempting to win their maiden 50-over ICC title when they host next year's ICC Champions Trophy, have sent out a warning to other sides, after their impressive series win against Pakistan. The series result against Pakistan have seen England (107) gain a point - three behind India and South Africa, who are at 110 points each with India ranked ahead of South Africa on decimal points. As for Pakistan, they have fallen to their lowest-ever points tally since the current rankings system was introduced in 2001. They started the series on 87 points and is now on 86 points - eight points behind eighth-ranked West Indies. With Pakistan's forthcoming ODI series against the West Indies and Australia, they have left themselves with a mountain to climb to keep alive their chances of qualifying automatically for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. The top eight teams as on 30th September 2017 will qualify directly for the ICC's pinnacle 50-over tournament, while the remaining two sides will progress from the 10-team ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018.(ANI)