Cricket: Warner seizes top spot in ODI rankings for the first time

Australia opener David Warner has wrested the top spot in the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen with a stupendous run in recent matches that is a warning for other teams in the year of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, which will be held in the United Kingdom from 1-18 June.

The attacking left-hander has attained the top ranking for the first time, leapfrogging South Africa’s AB de Villiers and India captain Virat Kohli after amassing 367 runs in the five-match home series against Pakistan which his side won 4-1, according to ICC’s media release.

Warner, who struck a belligerent 179 off 128 balls to help win the final ODI in Adelaide by 57 runs on Thursday, is aiming to continue with the superb form that has seen him score six centuries in the last 11 ODIs.

“It is a huge year for one-day cricket with the ICC Champions Trophy later this year and I am hoping I can take my good form into that tournament and help Australia lift the trophy for the third time,” said Warner, who is now 19 points ahead of second-placed de Villiers in the ODI rankings list with a tally of 880 points.

“It is always a great honour and very nice to receive these accolades but from my perspective my job is to put our team into winning positions and I have been fortunate that I have been able to do that lately,” he said.

In the MRF Tyres ICC Players Rankings for ODI Bowlers, Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc has gained two slots to reach second position after finishing with nine wickets in the series against Pakistan, which included a haul of four for 42 in Adelaide.

The former top-ranked bowler is now only five points behind New Zealand’s Trent Boult.