Australia will be presented with the new International Cricket Council (ICC) one-day Championship Shield before Friday's tri series opener against England in Sydney.

ICC President Malcolm Gray will present the trophy before the match, which will be Australia's first ODI fixture since the official ICC rankings were introduced at the end of October, 2002.

Australia topped the inaugural table and captain Ricky Ponting will collect the shield on the field before the match commences at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"It is entirely fitting that Australia should be the first recipients of this magnificent new ICC ODI shield," Gray said in a statement.

"As the current ICC Cricket World Cup holder, the team has been a powerful and innovative force in the shorter form of the game in recent years.

"The introduction of the official ICC ODI rankings in October was a clear and overdue recognition of the importance of one-day international cricket.

"I hope that it will help add an extra level of excitement and relevance to all future ODI matches around the cricketing world."

The gold and silver-plated shield uses as its centrepiece an image of a famous catch taken by South Africa's Jonty Rhodes.

The figure, sculpted in sterling silver, is triumphantly capturing a 1.5 carat Argyle diamond, representing the white ball of the one-day game.

The rim features 14 cast sterling silver cricket balls representing 11 players and three umpires.

With its closest rival, South Africa, closing in on top spot due to recent victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Australia needs to get off to a winning start to the series to ensure it holds onto the one-day rankings lead.

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