Melbourne, Aug 1(ANI): Australian captain Michael Clarke has said that he is determined to maintain his team's lead at the top of the ICC ODI rankings table.
Following the annual update of the ICC ODI Championship, Australia has extended its lead at the top of the table to 12 points, with Sri Lanka and India leading the chasing pack.
Clarke said that his side is looking to maintain its position in the table and is already building towards the 2015 World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.
"This Australian side is extremely proud to be ranked the No.1 one-day side in the world. However, we realize there is some significant work to be done if this is to remain the case," Clarke said.
"Being knocked out of the recent World Cup at the quarter-final stage was very disappointing and our group has already started its planning to reclaim the title on our home shores.
"This summer in Australia will be a great stepping stone towards this aim as we take on World Cup champions India and runners-up Sri Lanka in a return of the tri-series competition throughout Australia," he added.
The annual rankings update is carried out to ensure the ICC ODI Championship table continues to reflect recent form.
As such, the new table only includes results from matches played after August 1, 2009, with older results from between August 1, 2008 - July 31, 2009 being discarded.
Despite capturing the 2011 World Cup, India falls one place to third in the updated rankings.
This is due to the fact that in the 2008-09 rating year, now dropped, India won 17 ODIs and lost only five games, which was easily the best record during that period.
In the same year, Australia won 11 and lost 11 ODIs. So now Clarke's side are no longer penalised for that relatively poor year.
"In the past 12 months, India has lost nine ODIs, including its last two ODIs against eighth ranked West Indies and one in the group stages of the 2011 World Cup, and has a win-loss ratio that is poorer than World Cup finalists Sri Lanka and quarter finalists Australia and South Africa," an ICC statement said.
The rankings give equal weight to all ODIs played over the year, with no extra points for performances in the World Cup.
The number one ranked side in the ICC ODI Championship on April 1, 2012, will receive 175,000 dollars, while the second placed side will earn 75,000 dollars. (ANI)
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