ICC Test Championship mace given to Australia

Austalian captain Steve Smith received ICC Test Championship mace and US$1million in prize money to his side to be number one in latest MRF Tyres ICC Test team Rankings. ICC Chief Executive David Richardson made the presentations to Smith in Pallekele, who captained Australia to 10 Test victories over the 12-month period. “The mace is a symbol of excellence and recognition of a side’s outstanding achievement in the toughest format of the sport. Australia’s winning performances have been exceptional and they thoroughly deserve to be awarded the mace,” said Mr Richardson. “These are exciting times for Test cricket as the top four ranked countries are involved in high profile series across three different continents showcasing the very best this format of the sport has to offer. I am sure the incentive of achieving the number-one ranking will further motivate them, bringing out the best in the players,” added Mr Richardson. Smith paid tribute to his side, saying:  “It is a huge honour to be the number-one ranked Test side in the world and the credit should go to all the work the players and support staff have put in over the last 12 months. “I am really proud of our young team and what we have accomplished so far but there is still more we would like to achieve. “We now need to put in consistent performances, both at home and away, to continue to be successful and keep the number-one ranking. “Winning away from home has often been a challenge for us, especially in sub-continental conditions, but this is something we are looking to change in this upcoming series against Sri Lanka,” concluded Smith, who won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2015. Competition for the number-one ranking on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings this year remains extremely tight as only 10 points separate the top four sides. Second-ranked India, third-ranked Pakistan and fourth-ranked If India wins 4-0, England-Pakistan series ends in a draw and Sri Lanka wins by 1-0 or better, then India will jump to the number-one position.   This seams to be impossible but India can be number one before end of the year cause India will have to play another 8 test matches after this 4 test match series agaist West Indies. So After long time India have a chance to be on top of the Test Ranking and Australia will be not playing that much test match so high possibility to maintain the spot also.