DUBAI: Sri Lanka replaced India to claim second spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) one-day world rankings Tuesday following its first series victory as visitor against top-ranked Australia. Sri Lanka earned three rating points with its 2-1 series win in Australia to go one point clear of India and 10 points behind number-one ranked Australia. India will reclaim the No. 2 spot if it manages to clean sweep the five match ODI series against seventh-placed New Zealand, starting Nov. 28. Australia conceded two rating points following its series defeat but continued to lead the rankings with 128 points. South Africa and Pakistan retained their positions, fourth and sixth respectively. Ponting defends skipping game Australia cricket captain Ricky Ponting has defended his decision to miss Sunday's third limited overs international against Sri Lanka, saying he did so to help his team win back the Ashes. Ponting was criticized for sitting out the game - when the series was already decided - after having also missed the first match of the series to attend a family funeral. The Australian skipper, Ponting, said Tuesday that “we're trying to do the best we can to manage all our players, giving them as much first class cricket as possible”, adding that “all we're trying to do is give ourselves the best chance of winning the Ashes.” The five-Test series against England begins in Brisbane on Nov. 25. Smith pleased with progress South Africa skipper Graeme Smith said he was pleased with his side's progress ahead of next year's World Cup after clinching a 3-2 win in the one-day series against Pakistan. “For me, the steps from where we were in the winter to where we are now, I think we have taken some big steps forward, which is good,” Smith said after his side's 57-run win in the final one-day match in Dubai Monday. South Africa rode on an all-round performance from Jacques Kallis, whose 83 helped them to an imposing 317-5 before he took 3-30 to restrict Pakistan's innings to 260. Smith refused to be drawn on next year's World Cup, to be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. “We are not predicting anything on the World Cup, there is a lot of cricket still to be played,” said Smith, 29, whose country has never won the tournament. “Several guys made their debut against Pakistan in the one-day series, a lot of them have travelled to this part of the world for the first time and I think there has been lots of positives in the series.” Pakistan's two victories in the one-day series came by one wicket, and Smith said if South Africa had not missed opportunities it could have won 5-0. “Those are the things we learn from and become more clinical, but there are lots of positives as all 15 players have contributed (in the series),” he said. South Africa next hosts India for a series of three Tests and five one-dayers and Smith said the tourists would be a tough prospect. “Its quite obvious that they (India) are number one Test team in the world and would be ideal to compete,” said Smith, who hailed 35-year-old all-rounder Kallis as one of the greatest players he played with. “Throughout my career I ran out of things you say about Jacques (Kallis). He is an asset for South African cricket and when he does walk away from the game its going to be a big loss to us, but now we got him we want to make the most of him.” Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said he wanted improvement from his team in key areas. Pakistan and South Africa now play two Tests.
