Watson rises to top spot in ICC rankings

Shane Watson, the Australia allrounder, has surged to the top of the ICC rankings for allrounders in ODIs following his exploits in the recently concluded three-match series against Bangladesh. He made 294 runs, including a brutal, unbeaten 185 in the second game, smashing 15 sixes, a record, and as many fours, and picked up three wickets. It is his career-best ranking to date, and he overtook Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, who now trails him by 44 points. Watson also rose nine places to reach No.4 in the rankings for ODI batsmen.

Despite India's win in the 2011 World Cup, Australia finished as the top-ranked ODI team, while India remained atop the Test ratings at the end of the cut-off date, April 1. Both teams pocketed US$175,000 each. India have held on to their No.1 ranking since December 2009, with series wins against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia, and drawn series against South Africa and Sri Lanka in their time at the top. Australia have been No.1 in ODIs since September 2009, when they raced ahead of South Africa and India. The four-time world champions were beaten by India in the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals, ending their streak of consecutive World Cup wins at three.

India were the runners-up in the ODI rankings - 120 points against Australia's 128 - by the cut-off date, and picked up US$75,000, while South Africa received the same for taking the No.2 spot in Tests.