Dhoni at fifth spot in the latest LG ICC ODI batsmen rankings

Dubai, July 8 (UNI) It seems luck has graced India's newly appointed vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni with both hands as after speculation of him leading the Indian team in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa reached sky high, he also jumped up one spot to the fifth position in the latest LG ICC ODI batsmen rankings released today, while Australia captain Ricky Ponting also moving up one spot to lead the batting chart.

The Indian wicket-keeper, who is expected to lead the 15-mamber new-look Indian side in the inaugural World Cup of the nascent version of the game, moved past West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan who was unable to play in the three-match ODI series in England due to injury.

England's Kevin Pietersen slipped one position from the top following a relatively disappointing series against the Caribbeans with Ponting taking over his place with no one currently enjoying a rating in excess of the 800-point mark, while countrymen Mike Hussey is placed at the third spot.

Meanwhile, West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has moved up four places to thirteenth following a remarkable ODI series against England in which he scored 202 runs in three matches and was dismissed just once.

Chanderpaul was also named the player of the series for his feat as the Caribbeans wrapped up the series 2-1 and closed theie gap with England to just one point in the LG ICC ODI Championship rankings.

Australia still tops the team rankings with 130 points, with South Africa closely following on the heels with 122 points.

Interestingly, only four points seperates third position holder New Zealand (113) and sixth placed India (109).

Mean while, West Indies will have the opportunity to heap further pressure on England as it travels to Ireland to take part in a quadrangular series with the Netherlands and Scotland as well as the host team in Dublin and Belfast. A win over Ireland on July 14 will edge them even closer to Paul Collingwood's team, which presently lies in seventh position.

Meanwhile, in the bowling chart West Indies pacer Daren Powell broke into the top 20 for the first time. The 29-year-old Jamaican has moved up 12 places to 19th position following a number of good performances in the recently concluded series.

However, there were no other major movements in the ODI bowlers' rankings with Protea Shaun Pollock still enjoying rthe top position over Nathan Bracken of Australia placed in the second spot and Kiwi Shane Bond positioned at the third spot.

Apart from Caribbean Dwayne Bravo's four place jump to 13th spot, there were no major surprises in the all-rounders chart with Pollock still comfortably leading the tally followed by his team-mate Jacques Kallis in second position and Chris Gayle of the West Indies in the third spot.

Top Ten ODI Batsmen: 1. Ricky Ponting (Aus), 2. Kevin Pietersen (Eng), 3. Mike Hussey (Aus), 4. Matthew Hayden (Aus), 5. MS Dhoni (Ind), 6. Ramnaresh Sarwan (WI), 7. Adam Gilchrist (Aus), 8. Michael Clarke (Aus), 9. Andrew Symonds (Aus), 10. Graeme Smith (SA).

Top Ten ODI Bowlers: 1. Shaun Pollock (SA), 2. Nathan Bracken (Aus), 3. Shane Bond (NZ), 4. Chaminda Vaas (SL), 5. Muttiah Muralidaran (SL), 6. Makhaya Ntini (SA), 7. Daniel Vettori (NZ), 8. Brett Lee (Aus), 9. Abdur Razzaq (Ban), 10. Andre Nel (SA).

Top Five All Rounders: 1. Shaun Pollock (SA), 2. Jacques Kallis (SA), 3. Chris Gayle (WI), 4. Andrew Flintoff (Eng), 5. Sanath Jayasuriya (SL).

UNI