ACB welcomes launch of ICC one-day international team rankings
Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland has welcomed the introduction of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) one-day international team rankings, announced in London overnight (Thursday 31 October).
The rankings are calculated from the form of each side over the past three years, with greatest emphasis on more recent performances.
They are also worked out from the results of every match played rather than entire series which means an end to "dead games", matches played after a series has been decided.
That means the standings can change on a regular basis, especially as sides get greater credit for success against opponents with higher rankings.
Australia tops the first published rankings, ahead of South Africa. This summer's opponents in the VB Series, Sri Lanka and England, lie in third and sixth places in the ladder respectively.
Responding to the launch of the rankings, Mr Sutherland said: "The concept is an excellent focus for the massive interest that exists in the one-day international game.
"And in the same way that the ICC Test Championship trophy exists, this equivalent for one-day matches now gives the players something tangible to strive for within the busy schedule in this form of the game.
"The Chairman and Directors of the ACB congratulate the Australian side for being the first to top the rankings and wish the players good luck as they look to maintain their place as the best team in the world in the limited-overs arena."
Australia's one-day international captain Ricky Ponting said: "This new rankings system is a really good idea because for the first time each side can see where it stands against all the others.
"It's great that we are top of the first published ladder but the test of a good side is the ability to stay at number one.
"We've had some great results recently but also some disappointing ones and this ladder will give us extra incentive to achieve greater consistency.
"If we can do that this summer, in the VB Series and the World Cup, then we should be in contention for both prizes and also, hopefully, ensure we stay at the top of the one-day international rankings."
The top side on the ladder will receive a trophy but will surrender it to the side that replaces it as the leading team.
The ICC has commissioned the trophy and the ACB is awaiting details of an appropriate time when a presentation to Ponting and his players can take place.
© 2002 Australian Cricket Board
| Teams | Australia. |
| Players/Umpires | James Sutherland, Ricky Ponting. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Results - Forthcoming Desktop Scoreboard |
|
|
|
||||||
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
|
