Australia and India will start their proceedings to be No. 1 ODI team just before the World Cup through the Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series between Australia, India and England scheduled to begin from 16th January, 2015. After the dismal performance of India in the Test series, team India will surely look forward to win the Tri-Series and start the World Cup in a positive mind set.

Race begins to be ICC No. 1 ODI Team ahead of World Cup 2015

Australia and India, both standing with 117 rating points will eager to march ahead from other and achieve the No 1 spotjust before the Cricket’s most lucrative tournament. On the other side, England is currently with the 104 Rating points is in the 5th position after South Africa and Sri Lanka who are in the 3rd and 4th spot respectively. India under the Team Director Ravi Shastri and Coach Duncan Fletcher would look to make a point in Australia after the well fought lost teat series.

The Tri-nation tournament will start from coming Friday at the SCG with the Arch rivals Australia and England. The same opponents will start the world cup proceedings in Melbourne. All the teams are looking for the required practice in the similar Australian conditions just before the World Cup. As team India is already there in Australia from last two months, it is expected that the team has already adjusted in the Australian conditions.

Though India lost the test series by 0-2 margins, no one can take the ODI team lightly as in the last ODI tournament Men in Blue thrashed Sri Lanka by 5-0. Moreover India’s ODI record is far brighter than their Test record in recent past. However, India will try to solve the issue with injured all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who is such a key person in the India’s ODI team. With Jadeja not being into the picture and Yuvraj Singh is not in the squad, immerging all-rounder Axar Patel is set to be in the playing 11. In this series, India also would like to solve the issue of getting the right bowling combination, who can solve the issue of licking runs in the slog overs.

There will be few battles of Individuals to obtain the top spot in the ODI spot as India’s Virat Kohli is in red hot form in the just concluded Test Series, is standing in the 2nd spot just after South Africa’s AB de Villiers.

Interestingly, if Men in Blue are able to win the World Cup, Team India will be the 3rd side in the World Cup History to successfully retain the World Cup after the great West Indies Side in the year of 1975 and 1979 and Australia (3 consecutive years in 1999, 2003 and 2007).

However, Australia is in a bit of concern over their injured captain Michel Clarke. Stand in captain Baily is also suffering with some injuries. So, all the eyes will be on the Smith, who has scored 4 tons in the just concluding test series and Warner, also scored 3 centuries in the test series.

England is looking a bit younger team in this tournament with the exclusion of their regular skipper Cook, England will surely look forward the captaincy skill of their current skipper Morgan and a new opening pair of Moin Ali and Bell.

Tags: Australia, Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series, Cricket, England, India, ODI, World Cup 2015