India hoping to dislodge Aus from No 1 spot

India has a chance to regain the number one position in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship for the third time in as many months when it takes on Australia in the seven-match ODI series, which begins in Vadodara on Sunday.

Second-placed India had surged to the top of the ladder after defeating New Zealand in its opening match in the tri-series in Colombo on 11 August and then again following South Africa's loss to Sri Lanka in the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 opener at Centurion on September 22.

However, time spent at the top was short for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side as it slipped back into second position after losing to Sri Lanka at Colombo on August 12 and then to Pakistan at Centurion on September 26.

Nevertheless, if India beats Australia by 4-3 or better in upcoming series, it will be guaranteed a place at the top -- this time for a longer period.

A 4-3 result will put India on 127 ratings points, one ahead of Australia, and a 5-2 result will take it to 129 ratings points while dropping Australia to 124 ratings points, just three ahead of South Africa which takes on Zimbabwe in the two ODIs at the Willowmoore Park in Benoni and at Centurion in Pretoria on November 8 and 10, before hosting England in a five-ODI series from November 20.

A 6-1 victory for Dhoni's side will put it on 131 ratings points, nine clear of Australia, while a 7-0 sweep will take it to 133 ratings points while pushing Australia into third position on 120 ratings points.

In fact, India can go to top of the table as early as October 28 provided it wins both the Vadodara and Nagpur ODIs.

Australia needs to win the series to retain its number-one position. An Australia 4-3 win will mean both the sides maintain their pre-series ratings while a 5-2 or better series win will strengthen Australia's position at the top.

A 6-1 or 7-0 loss will push India to third behind South Africa. A 6-1 defeat will drop the home side to 119 ratings points while its failure to win any match in the series will cost it eight ratings points.

Below is a table of the series scenarios:

Meanwhile, at the top of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, Dhoni leads vice-captain Yuvraj Singh by a distance. Dhoni has been on the top since reclaiming the number-one position from West Indies captain Chris Gayle after the first ODI against Sri Lanka on January 31.

Apart from Dhoni and Yuvraj, India boasts Sachin Tendulkar (ninth), Virender Sehwag (10th) and ICC Test player of the year Gautam Gambir (16th) inside the top 20 with the trio eyeing upward movement.

Australia vice-captain Mike Hussey is the highest-ranked batsman from his side in fifth place with only 12 points separating him from second-placed Yuvraj.

Ponting is the other Australian inside the top 20 in eighth place with West Indies duo of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Gayle firmly within his sights.

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, ICC Cricketer of the Year Mitchell Johnson is the highest-ranked bowler from either side in 11th position, a place he shares with Pakistan's Shahid Afridi.

Brett Lee (16th) and Harbhajan Singh (18th) are the other two bowlers from either side inside the top 20 while just outside the top 20 are James Hopes (21st), Praveen Kumar (25th), Ishant Sharma (34th), Nathan Hauritz (37th) and Shane Watson (40th).

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders, second-placed Yuvraj is feeling the pressure from fourth-placed Watson as only 31 points separate the two players. The list is headed by Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has a chance to narrow the gap with eighth-placed the West Indies as it goes head to head with Zimbabwe in a five-match series from 27 November at Mirpur. Bangladesh currently sits on 55 ratings points while Zimbabwe is two ratings points ahead of 11th placed Ireland on 27 ratings points.

If Bangladesh wins the series 5-0, it will earn three ratings points and will rise to 58 points while Zimbabwe will drop one ratings point behind Ireland.

However, if Zimbabwe wins three matches in the series, it will climb to 33 ratings points while Bangladesh will drop to 48 ratings points whereas if the African side wins two matches in the series it will lift to 30 ratings points while the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 co-host will slip to 51 ratings points.