Dhoni could lose top spot in ICC ODI rankings to Hussey

Dubai: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s reign at the top of ICC’s ODI batting charts may come under threat from Mike Hussey if the Australian manages to carry his good Test form into the one-day series against Pakistan starting in Brisbane on Friday.

Hussey has a chance to regain the number one position from Dhoni for the first time since surrendering the spot after the Durban ODI against South Africa in April 2009, the ICC said in a statement.

Hussey and Dhoni are the only two batsmen with more than 800 ratings points as the Australian trails the Indian by 21 points. A few good knocks with the bat in the series will put Hussey ahead of the India captain.

In the team championship table, Pakistan have a chance to improve their ranking. While Australia leads second-ranked India by nine ratings points, Pakistan sit in seventh position on 108 ratings points and four behind fourth-placed New Zealand.

If Pakistan win the series 3-2 or better, they will rise to as high as fourth but would stay in seventh position in case they fail to win a single match in the series.

In case of a 3-2 series win, Mohammad Yousuf’s side will earn four ratings points which will put them alongside New Zealand on 112 ratings points but ahead of Daniel Vettori’s side by a fraction of a point.

A 4-1 series win will put Pakistan on 115 ratings points whereas a clean sweep will take it to 118 ratings points, one behind third-placed South Africa.

Even if Australia win the series 3-2, Pakistan will improve their rating by two places as they will leapfrog England and Sri Lanka into fifth place on 110 ratings points.


In contrast, Australia will retain their number one position even if they lose all the matches of the series though they will drop to 123 ratings points.

Ricky Ponting’s men will earn three ratings points if they finish unbeaten in the series.

In the rankings for ODI bowlers, Shahid Afridi is the highest-ranked bowler from either side in 12th position. The other Pakistan bowler inside the top 20 is off-spinner Saeed Ajmal in 17th spot.

Shahid trails sixth-placed Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh by 19 points.

The list is headed by Daniel Vettori of New Zealand while Ray Price of Zimbabwe is in second position.