Cricket World Cup: Australia's No. 1 Rank on the Line, India and South Africa on the Prowl
The Australian team had been the best ODI side before the 2011 World Cup as well but second-placed India overtook after winning the tournament. Will history repeat itself?
Australia go into the 2015 edition of the World Cup with their No. 1 ODI rank on the line. With India and South Africa just a few points below, the host nation - favourites to win the tournament - will look to maintain their spot at the top with solid performances. (Complete coverage of the World Cup)
Australia will feature on the opening day of the tournament on 14 February in Melbourne when it locks horns with England, which currently sits in fifth position. Earlier on the same day in Christchurch, co-host and sixth-ranked New Zealand will go head to head with former champion and fourth-placed Sri Lanka, with just five ratings points separating the two sides. (Also read: Clarke to miss Australia's first match)
Australia enjoys a comfortable six-point advantage over its closest rival and defending champion India, which squares off against traditional rival and seventh-ranked Pakistan in Adelaide. Also on Sunday, 15 February in Hamilton, third-ranked South Africa takes on continental rival Zimbabwe, which is currently sitting in 10th position and trailing the title favourites by 55 ratings points.
Australia had also started as the top-ranked side in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in the subcontinent. However, it was Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side that lifted the trophy in Mumbai after entering the competition in second position and 12 ratings points behind Australia.