Sri Lanka can move up to third in LG ICC ODI Championship in New Zealand

Sri Lanka can jump two places to third in the LG ICC ODI Championship if it completes a clean-sweep of New Zealand in the five-match ODI series that gets underway in Napier on Thursday.

But in what is a closely packed table, Mahela Jayawardene's team could also drop as low as seventh if it loses the series 5-0.

At present, there are only nine ratings points separating third and seventh in the LG ICC ODI Championship. There is plenty of ODI cricket coming up in the next few weeks as the teams make their final preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, and so the table could see plenty of movement during that time.

Third-placed New Zealand needs to win the series to avoid dropping below Pakistan in the table and if it loses by just one game, it will fall two places to fifth. Even if the Black Caps tie the series, they will drop to fourth so there is plenty at stake for the team, which will be led in the first two ODIs by Daniel Vettori in the absence of Stephen Fleming who is being rested.

So far, the games in New Zealand have been evenly shared. The two-Test series was tied 1-1 and the two-Twenty20 International series also ended in stalemate, with Sri Lanka winning the first by 18 runs (on Duckworth-Lewis method) in Wellington and New Zealand gaining revenge on 26 December, winning by five wickets in Auckland.

Meanwhile, Sanath Jayasuriya can make a return to the top ten of the LG ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen if he continues his good form over the next couple of weeks. He made 51 off just 23 balls in the rain-affected first Twenty20 International in Wellington and if he can translate that to the ODI format, he will soon pass Australia batsman Michael Clarke, who currently occupies 10th spot.

Mike Hussey of Australia is still in top spot, followed by England batsman Kevin Pietersen and West Indies all-rounder Chris Gayle.

There is also an opportunity for Sri Lanka captain Jayawardene to move up the LG ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen. He currently lies in 17th position but only six ratings points separates Yuvraj Singh of India in 14th spot and Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in 18th position.

This series will also be a chance for some players to strengthen their position in the LG ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers. New Zealand's Shane Bond and stand-in captain Vettori are lying in seventh and eighth position, respectively, and they will have Muttiah Muralidaran (ninth) and Chaminda Vaas (tenth) of Sri Lanka hot on their heels.

South Africa all-rounder Shaun Pollock is still way out in front of the LG ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, followed by Australia bowler Glenn McGrath. Pollock is also top of the list in the LG ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders, ahead of Gayle and Jayasuriya.

New Zealand v Sri Lanka ODI series fixtures:
Thursday 28 December, 1st ODI, Napier
Sunday 31 December, 2nd ODI, Queenstown
Tuesday 2 January, 3rd ODI, Christchurch
Saturday 6 January, 4th ODI, Auckland
Tuesday 9 January, 5th ODI, Hamilton

More details of the latest LG ICC Player Rankings as well as the ODI and Test Championships can be found here