LONDON, June 16: Australia go into NatWest Series against England and Bangladesh with highest ever rating in ICC One-day International Championship. Their rating of 140 is four points higher that when they won ICC World Cup in 2003 and their lead at the top of official table is such that even if they lose all of their matches against England and Bangladesh they will still hold a comfortable 13-point advantage over their nearest rival, Sri Lanka.

England, currently sixth in ICC table, can close the gap on top five with a winning series. If England make the final without losing a game they will climb from 103 to 111 points, one point less than Pakistan and South Africa. A victory in the final would see England overtake both of these sides.

In ICC player rankings Ricky Ponting must perform well to hold on to number one spot in ODI batting. His closest rival going into the series is team-mate Adam Gilchrist while Andrew Flintoff, fifth, is highest ranked English batsman.

Flintoff has a chance to become only player to feature in both batting and bowling ODI top tens if he has a good series with ball. He is currently second ranked English bowler in 11th place, one place behind Darren Gough.

The leading ODI bowler is currently Australian Glenn McGrath while his team-mates Brett Lee, fourth, and Jason Gillespie, sixth are also in top ten.

ODI team standings (before start of NatWest series): 1. Australia 140 rating points; 2. Sri Lanka 117; 3. New Zealand 116; 4. South Africa 112; 5. Pakistan 112; 6. England 103; 7. India 97; 8. West Indies 95; 9. Zimbabwe 50; 10. Kenya 26; 11. Bangladesh 11.—Agencies