Sthalekar and Perry look to cement Australia's dominance
Australia bowling duo Lisa Sthalekar and Ellyse Perry will both be eager to cement the top two spots in the Reliance ICC Women's ODI Rankings for bowlers at the conclusion of the side's upcoming series against New Zealand.
Host Australia, recently crowned ICC Women's World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 champion, will take on New Zealand in the four-match Rose Bowl ODI series, which begins on 12 December (Wednesday) at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The annual series pits Australia, currently ranked number two in the world for ODIs against New Zealand, who are currently ranked fourth in the world and will provide a suitable challenge for the two sides ahead of their travel to Mumbai early next year for the ICC Women's World Cup India 2013.
Sthalekar, currently ranked number one in the world, is 81 points ahead of team-mate Perry, who is currently ranked third. England's Katherine Brunt separates the Australian pair, in second with 777 rating points, and it will be up to Perry to perform to her highest standard to muscle in on the top two spots.
Outside of the top three, there are no Australia or New Zealand players in the top 20, however, Australia's Erin Osborne (21st) and Sarah Coyte (23rd) will be hoping to break into the 20 with this four-match series. Sian Ruck and Lucy Doolan, the two highest-ranked New Zealand bowlers, in 35th and 41st positions respectively, will have some hard-work to do to rise up the rankings.
Meanwhile, in the Reliance ICC Women's ODI Player Rankings for all-rounders, which is currently topped by West Indies Stafanie Taylor, there are opportunities for Sthalekar (second) and Perry (third) to further improve their ratings while White Ferns duo Doolan (14th) and captain Suzie Bates (15th) will be hoping to break into the top 10.
In the Reliance ICC Women's ODI Rankings for batters, Australia's Alex Blackwell is the highest-ranked from both sides in sixth place, and she will want to put in a number of strong performances during the Rose Bowl series to ensure a rise up the rankings.
Beneath Blackwell, there are plenty of Australia and New Zealand batters who could all make positive inroads in the table. New Zealand's Amy Satterthwaite (11th), Sara McGlashan (12th), Bates (19th) and Doolan (20th) are all strong performers with the bat and the four all have the potential to rise up the rankings.
Australia also has a number of players in the top 20 batters who could potentially push a number of key batters such as England captain Charlotte Edwards, who currently sits sixth, and India vice-captain Harmanpeet Kaur (seventh) down the rankings.
The series provides Australia's Jess Cameron (eighth), Meg Lanning (10th), all-rounder Lisa Sthalekar (14th) and Leah Poulton (15th) all with chances to improve their positions, while many eyes will be on Cameron, who most recently secured Player of the Final in the ICC Women's World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 that was ultimately won by Australia.
Upcoming ODI fixtures
12 Dec - Australia v New Zealand, Sydney Cricket Ground
14 Dec - Australia v New Zealand, North Sydney Oval
17 Dec - Australia v New Zealand, North Sydney Oval
19 Dec - Australia v New Zealand, North Sydney Oval