LONDON, Nov 19: World champions Australia have been confirmed as top seeds for the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy in England next September.

The groupings for the 12-team tournament will be based on the official One Day International ratings on Dec 1 and with no further matches before this date, Australia (136) and South Africa (118) cannot be caught.

South Africa will be seeded No 2.

India’s defeat at the hands of Australia on Tuesday means they will have a rating of 105 when the groupings are announced.

This currently puts India in seventh place and heading for a meeting with South Africa but as all five of their closest rivals still have matches left to play, they could yet move up or down the table.

Sri Lanka are now third on 107 after beating England comprehensively on Tuesday but are only four points ahead of eighth-placed New Zealand.

Matches in the ICC Champions Trophy will be played at three venues in England from Sept 10 to 25 .

The tournament schedule will be drawn up once the groupings have been finalised.

ICC One Day International Championship

1 Australia 136

2 South Africa 118

3 Sri Lanka 107

4 Pakistan 107

5 West Indies 106

6 England 106

7 India 105

8 New Zealand 103

9 Zimbabwe 63

10 Kenya 28

11 Bangladesh 0

—AFP