Bangalore: The VB series opener between Australia and England on Friday is the first One-day International for both sides since the introduction of the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI Championship Table in October 2002, according to an official press release.With South Africa closing the gap at the top with recent victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan, current leader Australia needs to get off to a winning start to the series to ensure that they remain in first place.The series begins with two matches between Australia and England in Sydney and Melbourne. If England, currently seventh in the ICC rankings, can upset the formbook and win both games it will climb above West Indies into sixth place. Indeed if England can win three of their first four matches it will also overtake India, which currently lies fifth.Since the launch of the rankings, Sri Lanka has been locked in a battle for third place with Pakistan. The VB Series offers Sri Lanka an opportunity to make third position its own and a good series will see it pull away from its rival."This is the first opportunity for Australia and England to improve their ODI rankings," ICC general manager - cricket David Richardson said."With South Africa recently winning a number of games against two of the stronger sides - Sri Lanka and Pakistan - it means that if Australia doesn't get off to a good start in the VB Series it could slip back into second place," he added.The first five matches of the VB series will be refereed by Wasim Raja with Steve Bucknor and Rudi Koertzen as umpires. There is then a break before the final matches, which will be refereed by Clive Lloyd with Russell Tiffin and David Orchard as umpires, the release added.ODI Championship Table

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