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2018 set for ODI rankings battle as ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 preparations begin

8 January 2018

With the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 starting to appear on the horizon, ODI nations will have it in the back of their minds during the various series scheduled throughout 2018.

For fans wanting to be part of the Cricket World Cup action in England and Wales, 2018 presents the opportunity when tickets go on sale. Further information will be revealed on Monday 15 January which marks 500 days to go until the start of the tournament!

Did you know - There will be four Cricket World Cup matches played in Bristol!

It is fitting that on the eve of the 500-days-to-go milestone, Australia (currently ranked 3rd in the MRF ICC ODI Rankings)will host their first ODI of 2018 on the very ground at which they lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015.

The defending champions Australia are ranked third in the ODI Team rankings.
Australia's post-Ashes series with England (currently ranked 4th), which starts on January 14 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, is the first of 10 ODI matches throughout the year (five home and five away), which will see the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 hosts take on the current holders.

The first ODI of 2018 will see New Zealand (currently ranked 5th) and Pakistan (currently ranked 6th) go head to head in Wellington on Friday 5 January, in the first of a five-match series. New Zealand will then host England in a five-match series during February and March.

New Zealand will kickstart the year with a 5-match series against Pakistan.

One of the most eagerly awaited ODI series in 2018 will be the clash between the top two sides in the MRF ICC ODI Rankings on February 1, when South Africa, top of the rankings at present, take on second placed India in the first of six ODIs - starting at Kingsmead, Durban.

Top ranked South Africa will go head to head in a 6-match series with No.2 ranked India.

March will see 10 teams - headed by the 1975 and 1979 World Cup Champions West Indies (currently ranked 9th) - battle for the remaining two places at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. The qualification tournament will also feature Zimbabwe (who are hosting the event), Afghanistan and Ireland who are currently ranked 10th, 11th and 12th respectively.

Completing the teams to have already qualified, Sri Lanka (currently ranked 8th), World Cup winners in 1996, travel to Bangladesh (currently ranked 7th) and play in a tri-tournament -involving Zimbabwe as well – during January. The first match of the tri-tournament will be played at Sher-e Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, which hosted the opening game of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Bangladesh will feature in a tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Bangladesh will feature in a tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
It all adds up to an exciting start to a year as teams look to build ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales.

For more information on all the 2018 International schedule, visit the ICC Cricket Calendar here.

All matches can be followed live on the ICC Match Centre.

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