DUBAI - India once again slipped to number two position in the latest ICC rankings and now need to win the final two one-dayers against New Zealand to reclaim the top spot from the current table-toppers Australia, who acquired the position today after beating England 4-1 in five-game series. India, initially, lost the number one ranking to Australia after going down 0-2 against New Zealand, but England's win in the fourth ODI on Friday had put the Indians back on top.
But Australia today registered a five-wicket win in the fifth and final ODI at Adelaide to take the series as well as the number one position in the ODI rankings table. India, who are trailing 0-2, need to win remaining two games against New Zealand to climb up the ladder again. The third ODI between India and New Zealand had ended in a tie yesterday.
Australia started the series in second place with 114 ratings points, while England (111) were in third place. At the conclusion of the series, Australia have earned three ratings points to finish atop the table with 117 ratings points, on par with India, but when ratings was calculated beyond the decimal point, Michael Clarke's men were ranked ahead of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side.
England, on the other hand, have dropped two ratings points to finish on 109 in fourth place, one behind South Africa. If India win both the matches it will go to the top with a gain of one ratings point to end at 118, one ahead of Australia. But if it lose even one of the two matches, India will stay in second place with a loss of one ratings point at 116, one behind Australia. Loss in both the matches will mean India drop two ratings points to finish on 115 in second place, two behind Australia.