India retain No 1 spot in ODIs
Dubai: World champion India has managed to retain its number one spot in the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings after the last two 50-over games in the seven-match home series against Australia were washed-out. Australia lead the series 2-1 with the final two matches to be played in Nagpur and Bengaluru on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively. Australia needed to win the series 6-1 or better to dislodge India from the top and reclaim the number one spot, which it last held in July 2012. If Australia manages to win the final two ODIs, it will rise to 119 ratings points while India will finish on 120 ratings points. In sharp contrast, if India wins both matches, it will finish on 123 ratings points while Australia will slide to 114 ratings points — only three ahead of second placed England and third ranked Sri lanka, according to an ICC statement.
Ishant, Ashwin practice hard
Nagpur: India’s under-performing bowlers Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin on Sunday had a long stint at the nets at the VCA Stadium, Jamtha, here ahead of Wednesday’s do-or-die One-Day International against Australia. India are currently 1-2 down in the seven-ODI series with just two matches remaining. They would have to win both the games in order to clinch the series. Ishant has taken only three wickets in the series so far by giving away more than seven runs per over on an average. His dismal show, especially at the death overs, has costed the team. The Delhi bowler was also smashed for 30 runs in the 48th over of the Australian innings in the third ODI at Mohali last Saturday that India lost by four wickets from a seemingly winning position.
‘We want to win series in nagpur’
Nagpur: Australia are extremely keen to wrap up the seven-game ODI series here on Wednesday itself by winning the penultimate match in Jamtha, left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty said on Monday. ‘“We have come here to win this game and we’re not worried too much about Bangalore (venue of last game on November 2). At the moment we are worried about winning this game and wrapping it up on Wednesday,’” said Doherty. ‘“From our point of view this is the game we want to win. We don’t want to save it for the last game on Sunday. We want to wrap up this game. Obviously from their (India’s) point of view they need to win to stay alive and from that point, it is pretty crucial for them,’” said Doherty. ‘“We would rather be 3-1 up than 2-2 all. Both teams have played some very good cricket and it will be about who is better on Wednesday,’” he added.
WIndies team arrives in Kolkata
Kolkata: A 25-member West Indies contingent, including support staff, on Monday checked in here to play a three-day practice match and opening Test of the two-match series. ‘“After 16-hours of flying, we have landed on Indian soil,’” skipper Darren Sammy tweeted after landing in Mumbai in the wee hours of Monday. The team arrived here in two batches one in the afternoon and the other in the evening. PNS/Agencies