Sri Lanka has dislodged India to take second position in ICC ODI Cricket Rankings after securing a confidence-boosting series win over table-topper Australia.
The first—ever series win in Australia has earned the island nation three ratings points which has put it one point clear of India on 118 ratings points and 10 points behind number-one ranked Australia, which meanwhile, has conceded two ratings points.
Sri Lanka won the series opener in Melbourne by one wicket and then took an unassailable 2-0 lead by winning the Sydney one-dayer by 29 runs (D-L method). Australia secured a consolation eight-wicket win in Brisbane.
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Indian team will have the chance to regain the number-two spot later this month but it would happen only if it manages to win all the five ODIs against New Zealand.
The series will start in Guwahati on November 28.
A 5—0 clean sweep will take India to 121 ratings points while a 4-1 series win will place it alongside Sri Lanka on 118 rating points. However, in that case, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side would be placed just behind Kumar Sangakkara’s side by a fraction of a ratings point.
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Sri Lanka’s next ODI commitment is the five-match ODI series against the West Indies which starts in Suriyawewa Stadium in Hambantota on December 9.
Meanwhile, South Africa and Pakistan have retained their pre-series positions after the Proteas won the just-concluded series in UAE 3-2. South Africa is on 115 ratings points, two ahead of England, while Pakistan is on 100 ratings points and leads New Zealand by four ratings points.