England aims to hold on to third

England goes into the three One Day International series against Sri Lanka aiming to hold onto third place in the official ODI ratings, starting in Dambulla on November 18.

When the ICC ODI ratings were launched in October 2002, England was sixth in the table but good form in home series against Pakistan, Zimbabwe and South Africa and the recent 3-0 victory over Bangladesh has lifted it to third in the official standings.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has moved in the other direction sliding from third to sixth over the last 12 months.

The last time the sides met on Sri Lankan soil in 2001, the home side won the series 3-0 and the same scoreline would have a dramatic impact on the ratings of both sides. It would see Sri Lankas rating climb from 103 to 109 while Englands would fall from 108 to 103.

If England can reverse the previous scoreline, however, it will close in on second-placed South Africa by moving up to 113 its highest rating ever. This 0-3 outcome would see Sri Lanka drop to eighth place in the table with a rating of 102.

Clive Lloyd from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees will officiate on the series while Daryl Harper from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires will stand in all three matches alongside officials appointed by the home board.

For the full formula and to predict the impact future results will have on the ratings visit www.icc.cricket.org.

ICC media contacts: