Dubai: Australia will launch its campaign to win its fifth ICC Cricket World Cup title when it enters the 11th edition of the game’s pinnacle 50-over tournament as the number-one-ranked side on the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings.


Australia will feature on the opening day of the tournament on 14 February in Melbourne when it locks horns with England, which currently sits in fifth position. Earlier on the same day in Christchurch, co-host and sixth-ranked New Zealand will go head to head with former champion and fourth-placed Sri Lanka, with just five ratings points separating the two sides.

Australia enjoys a comfortable six-point advantage over its closest rival and defending champion India, which squares off against traditional rival and seventh-ranked Pakistan in Adelaide. Also on Sunday, 15 February in Hamilton, third-ranked South Africa takes on continental rival Zimbabwe, which is currently sitting in 10th position and trailing the title favourites by 55 ratings points.


Two-time former champion and eight-ranked West Indies will meet 12th-ranked Ireland in Nelson on Monday, 16 February with 60 ratings points separating the two sides.


Australia had also started as the top-ranked side in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in the subcontinent. However, it was Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side that lifted the trophy in Mumbai after entering the competition in second position and 12 ratings points behind Australia.