Women’s cricket: India gain three points, stay fourth

Dubai: The Indian women’s team continued to remain at the fourth position in the ICC ODI rankings but gained three important points to take their tally to 116 points, after an annual update of the rankings.

Mithali Raj’s team, which had reached the finals of the Women’s World Cup earlier this year, has lessened the gap between them and the third placed New Zealand. They to stay strong at the third position with their pre-update tally of 118 points.

Mithali said that her team is looking forward to make it to the third position in the team rankings.

She said, “Gaining these valuable points is no mean achievement and have come after some fine performances over the past year, including at the World Cup. I’m sure this will inspire our team in matches ahead.”

“We are now close to New Zealand in the rankings and will aim to be number three,” Mithali further added.

England however, have made it to the top of the rankings, going past Meg Lanning’s Australia.

Although the world champions are now level with Australia 128 points, they are ahead of them on decimal points after the annual update where the results 2013-2014 season aren’t included.

Only 50 per cent from both the 2014-2015 season and the 2015-2016 season are now considered by the rankings with the 2016-2017 season being taken into account for 100 per cent.

Only England and Australia have changed places in the rankings. The fifth position is occupied by West Indies who have lost four points to have 101 points. They are followed by South Africa at the sixth position with 93 points while Pakistan have lost a point to remain at the seventh position with 72 points and Sri Lanka haven’t seen any gain or loss in points and continue to be at the eighth position.