India rises to 3rd spot in ODI rankings

Dubai, Nov 18 (UNI) India has moved up two places from fifth to third position on the ICC ODI Championship table after beating England in the opening two encounters of the ongoing seven-match series.

In turn, England now sits in sixth position having slipped from third following the two comprehensive defeats. Having lost three ratings points, England now sits just behind New Zealand by a fraction of a point.

However, with five matches still remaining in the series and the ODI Championship ladder very closely packed, there is plenty of time for Kevin Pietersen and his men to make amends. On the other hand, if India can continue the way it is going, it can go second in the ladder by the end of the series.

Pakistan is the other big mover this week as Shoaib Malik's team has moved up two places to fourth following its 3-0 series win against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi.

There are now just two ratings points separating India in third position from England in sixth with South Africa just another four points ahead in second place.

Australia is still out in front, some 12 ratings points clear of the Proteas.

Meanwhile, the Indian players are already reaping the rewards of their early successes in the series. Yuvraj Singh, who scored centuries in both matches, has shot up the rankings for ODI batsmen.

The 26-year-old has gained no fewer than 11 places and now sits in sixth position as he enjoys the highest rating of his career till date.

The batting rankings are still headed by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni followed by Australia's Michael Hussey in second place and Graeme Smith of South Africa in third.

However, England pacer Andrew Flintoff has slipped out of the top 10 in the bowlers' list. He now sits at the 13th spot. He took just one wicket in the first two matches of the series at a cost of 116 runs and an economy rate of 6.10.

The big mover in rankings for ODI bowlers is Sohail Tanvir, who has broken into the top 10 bowlers for the first time in his career after an impressive performance against the West Indies.

The 23-year-old from Pakistan has made rapid progress since making his ODI debut in October 2007 and his haul of seven wickets at an average of 15.14 and economy rate of 4.00 in Abu Dhabi has boosted him further to the tune of 12 places. He now sits in seventh spot, in between the Sri Lankan pair of Muttiah Muralidaran in sixth position and Chaminda Vaas in eighth.

West Indies speedster Jerome Taylor gains two places and heads into the top 10, underlying the fact that despite losing 3-0 with Pakistan, the series did not come without positives for the men from the Caribbean.

Aussie medium-pacer Nathan Bracken holds the top spot with 755 points, 22 points ahead of Daniel Vettori in second place with compatriot Mitchell Johnson in third.

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