India can close in on ODI top spot

A 5-0 whitewash by India in their five match ODI series against India starting on Wednesday would make an interesting three-horse race for the top spot in the Reliance Mobile ICC championship rankings.

In that case, India will get 123 rating points, equal to that of South Africa but three less than Australia (126), calculated after today's fourth ODI between the Proteas and Ricky Ponting's men.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team would then get the chance to go to the top of the rankings before long if all results against the Lankans go their way and they make a winning start to their series against New Zealand early in March.

But if India lose 0-5 to the Lankans they would slip below New Zealand (113) into fifth position. Such a result would catapult Sri Lanka (107) to third spot.

Irrespective of India vs Sri Lanka result, South Africa will go to top of the table if they win the fifth and final match of the ongoing series against Australia in Perth on Friday.

Victory for the Proteas in that match would put them level with Australia on 125 ratings points. However, South Africa would be just ahead of their hosts by a fraction of a ratings point (124.85 points compared to Australia's 124.64). India will retain their third place in that case.

Australia though can regain the number one position immediately as they take on New Zealand for five ODIs, just two days after the Perth match.

Whichever side leads the ODI Championship table on April 1 will collect USD 175,000 with the runners-up pocketing USD 75,000. The same is true of the Test Championship with the top team walking away with USD 350,000.