Australia cricket captain Michael Clarke feels all that matters is winning the World Cup and not the rankings. Australia are currently the no.1 ranked ODI team followed by India and South Africa in the second and third places, respectively.
Clarke is not bothered even if South Africa steal the no.1 spot by winning the ongoing tri-series in Harare, that also involves Zimbabwe. The Australia captain said South Africa, who have never won the World Cup, will have to prove during the mega event, slated Feb 14-March 29 and co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand that they are really the no.1 team.
Clarke admitted he won’t be losing any sleep if South Africa dislodge them from the no.1 rankings and said that winning World Cup is ‘be all and end all’. ‘Whoever wins that tournament will be seen as the No.1 One-Day team in the world. That’s the way I’ve always looked at One-Day rankings,’ Clarke was quoted as saying in the Australian media.
‘I guess you love being No.1 in any form of the game but... you get a great indicator who is the No.1 team in the world in six months time playing in a World Cup. That’s what dictates it,’ he added. In their own backyard, Australia will be favourites to win the World Cup for the fifth time. They won three consecutive World Cups but faltered in 2011 when they lost to India in the quarterfinal.