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Australia take on the World in Tests and one-dayers

Australia will play the World XI in Test and one-day matches after confirming their status as the No

Cricinfo staff
08-Feb-2005


Australia's success against Pakistan has earned them three one-day matches against the World XI in October © Getty Images
Australia will play the World XI in Test and one-day matches after confirming their status as the No. 1 ODI team by winning the VB Series. While the cut-off date for the rankings is April 1, Australia's defeat of Pakistan means New Zealand cannot now overtake them on the ICC one-day table. Australia will thus face a busy October, with three one-day matches at Melbourne and the six-day Super Series Test at Sydney.
Glenn McGrath's 5 for 27 in the second final has propelled him to the top of the individual one-day list for bowlers - he is also No. 1 in the Test hierarchy - while Brett Lee lifted a spot from seventh to sixth, one place behind Jason Gillespie. Strangely, considering his barnstorming VB Series that included replacing Matthew Hayden as opener, Michael Clarke slipped to 12th place, while Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting sit at fourth and seventh.
Jacques Kallis remains the world's best-rated one-day batsman, and if South Africa win the final three matches of their current home series they will pass England and move to fifth on the championship table.
Australia sealed the top Test spot by beating Pakistan in January and their current ICC limited-overs rating is 137, which is 17 more than New Zealand and a point higher than when they won the 2003 World Cup. Australia and New Zealand will play a five-match one-day series starting on February 19.
LG ICC ODI Championship table
Rank Team Points
1 Australia 137
2 New Zealand 120
3 Sri Lanka 117
4 Pakistan 109
5 England 106
6 West Indies 105
7 South Africa 104
8 India 98
9 Zimbabwe 51
10 Kenya 26
11 Bangladesh 11