Sport - Cricket

India in fourth spot in ICC ODI rankings

Dubai: Despite losing the one-day series against the West Indies, India leapfrogged New Zealand into the fourth place to finish just two points behind third-placed Pakistan in the annual update of the LG ICC one-day championship table.

The annual update also saw Australia's lead cut to eight rating points by South Africa. India had dropped to the fifth place after being beaten 4-1 in the five-match series in the West Indies.

The annual update is carried out to ensure the LG ICC one-day championship table continues to reflect recent form with older results being discarded. As such, the new table only includes results from matches played after August 1, 2003.

South Africa's improved rating is down to a turn-around in fortunes in the past 18 months. In January 2005, it was languishing in seventh place, but since then, it has enjoyed a strong run of form culminating in a famous 3-2 series win over Australia.

The rankings of most of the other teams are largely unchanged by the update although India has moved up the table thanks to some impressive displays over the past year.

Bangladesh gradual improvement is also reflected by the way it has gained eight rating points. As it now trails Zimbabwe by only two points, it has the chance to overtake the African side during the two sides' upcoming five-match series that starts on July 29. That series will be the first one to be rated under the updated LG ICC one-day championship table.

LG ICC one-day championship (up to July 29, 2006): Rank (previous), team rating (previous):

1. (1) Australia 131 (132); 2. (2) South Africa 123 (119); 3. (3) Pakistan 115 (114); 4. (5) India 113 (111); 5. (4) New Zealand 111 (113); 6. (6) Sri Lanka 107 (109); 7. (7) West Indies 99 (98); 8. (8) England 96 (97); 9. (9) Zimbabwe 33 (40); 10. (10) Bangladesh 31 (23); 11. (11) Kenya 7 (7). — PTI

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