Hussey challenges Dhoni's number-one batting spot while Shahid Afridi can achieve career-best ranking

ICC ODI Championship predictor function available at http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/match_zone/odi_predictor.php

Pakistan has a chance to improve its ranking in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship table when it faces four-time world champion Australia in a five-match series which starts in Brisbane on Friday.

While Australia leads second-ranked India by nine ratings points, Pakistan sits in seventh position on 108 ratings points and four behind fourth-placed New Zealand.

If Pakistan wins the series by 3-2 or better, it will rise to as high as fourth but would stay in seventh position in case of its failure to win a single match in the series while dropping four ratings points behind sixth-placed Sri Lanka.

In case of a 3-2 series win, Mohammad Yousuf's side will earn four ratings points which will put it alongside New Zealand on 112 ratings points but ahead of Daniel Vettori's side by a fraction of the point. A 4-1 series win will put Pakistan on 115 ratings points whereas a clean sweep will take it to 118 ratings points, one behind third-placed South Africa.

Even if Australia wins the series 3-2, Pakistan will improve its rating by two places as it will leapfrog England and Sri Lanka into fifth place on 110 ratings points.

In contrast, Australia will retain its number-one position even if loses all the matches of the series though it will drop to 123 ratings points but will earn three ratings points if it finishes unbeaten in the series.

The odds are in favour of Australia as it has won 14 out of the last 20 ODIs against Pakistan which has won only five. On a head-to-head in Australia, Ricky Ponting's side enjoys a 27-16 advantage with a tied game and one no-result while overall Australia has won 47 out of the 80 ODIs with Pakistan winning 29, one ending in a tie and three no-results.

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, Australia's Michael Hussey has a chance to regain the number-one position from India captain Mahendra Singh for the first time since surrendering the spot after the Durban ODI against South Africa in April 2009.

Hussey and Dhoni are the only two batsmen with more than 800 ratings points as the Australian trails the Indian by 21 points. A few good knocks with the bat in the series will put Hussey ahead of the India captain.

Besides Hussey, Australia boasts Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke inside the top 20. Both have an excellent chance to move up the ladder.

Ponting sits in fourth place, just 11 points behind South Africa's AB de Villiers while 18th-placed Clarke is 19 points behind 14th-ranked Paul Collingwood of England.

Outside the top 20, Australia has Shane Watson in 27th spot, Brad Haddin in 42nd position and Cameron White sin 43rd place.

For Pakistan, Mohammad Yousuf is the only batsman inside the top 20 in 15th position which he shares with South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs.

Outside the top 20 and eyeing an upward movement like their captain are Shoaib Malik (24th), Salman Butt (26th), Younus Khan (33rd), Misbah-ul-Haq (38th), Kamran Akmal (44th), Umar Akmal (56th) and Shahid Afridi (59th).

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, Shahid is the highest-ranked bowler from either side in 12th position. The other Pakistan bowler inside the top 20 is off-spinner Saeed Ajmal in 17th spot.

Shahid has a good opportunity to not only regain return to the top 10 but also improve his previous best ranking of eighth as he trails sixth-placed Harbhajan Singh of India by 19 points.

In the absence of Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Bracken, off-spinner Nathan Hauritz is the highest-ranked Australia bowler in 16th spot.

Other bowlers outside the top 20 and aiming to improve their rankings are James Hopes (26th), Umar Gul (27th), Shane Watson (30th), Mohammad Asif (44th) and Naved-ul-Hasan (56th).

The list is headed by Daniel Vettori of New Zealand while Ray Price of Zimbabwe is in second position.

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for all-rounder, Watson is in second place while Shahid Afridi is in fourth spot. The list is headed by Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh.

The schedule of the series is:

22 Jan - First ODI, Brisbane (d/n)

24 Jan - Second ODI, Sydney (d/n)

26 Jan - Third ODI, Adelaide (d/n)

29 Jan - Fourth ODI, Perth (d/n)

31 Jan - Fifth ODI, Perth (d/n)

Reliance Mobile ODI Championship (as of 21 January, before the start of Australia - Pakistan ODI series)

Rank Team Rating

1 Australia 130

2 India 121

3 South Africa 119

4 New Zealand 112

5 England 109

6 Sri Lanka 108

7 Pakistan 108

8 West Indies 76

9 Bangladesh 55

10 Zimbabwe 26

11 Ireland 25

12 Kenya 2