Australia and South Africa setting the pace in Tests and ODIs

Ponting receives Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship mace while Smith picks up ICC ODI Championship shieldDavid Richardson: “These awards are a recognition of excellence”SNTV to send out video news release tonight from today’s presentation ceremony; Getty Images to supply photographs
The presentation of the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship mace and the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship shield plus prize money was made to the captains of the Australia and South Africa teams in Johannesburg today.

Captain Ricky Ponting accepted the mace and US$175,000 on behalf of Cricket Australia for leading the team that will finish top of the Test Championship table on the annual cut-off date of 1 April. He also picked up a cheque for US$75,000 for coming second in the ODI Championship on the same date.

Meanwhile, Graeme Smith took possession of the shield and US$175,000 on behalf of Cricket South Africa in recognition of his team finishing top of the ODI Championship table. He also accepted a cheque for US$75,000 for being second in the Test Championship on the 1 April cut-off.

“These awards are a recognition of excellence,” said Mr Richardson.

“Australia has been at the top of the Test Championship table for a very long time now and that is a remarkable achievement. It is one thing getting to the top but it much harder to stay there and when they were beaten in the series in Australia, Ricky and his players came to South Africa in real danger of losing their number-one spot.

“But they showed great character and skill in the first two Tests to make sure of winning the series and remaining on top,” he said.

“South Africa has been pushing Australia in both the Test and ODI formats of the game for quite some time and is deservedly top of the ODI Championship. I want to congratulate both sides for their dedication, ability to entertain us all and for playing the game in the right spirit. I wish them all the best for the coming year,” said Mr Richardson.

At the presentation, Ponting said: “This is a tribute to the hard work of the players and the back-room staff and it’s very pleasing for us… After losing the home series against South Africa we were under pressure and so we came here to make sure we lifted our game and improve in a lot of areas. That was our focus.

“I think the way we performed in first two Tests of the series was as good as we have played in a long time and it gave me perhaps more pleasure than any other series I have been a part of either as a player or a captain.”

Smith added: “If you look back a couple of years we were probably fourth or fifth in both the Test and ODI rankings so to be second in the Test rankings and number-one in one-dayers is a great feeling and is testament to how far we have come.

“The hunger is there and we have shown that we can compete with Australia in both those formats of the game and I am optimistic that we can eventually lead both sets of rankings because we have the right plan and the right attitude at the moment.”

Sanjay Behl, Group Head – Branding and Marketing, Reliance Communications, ADAG, said: “Reliance Communications, ADA Group, congratulates both the Australian and the South African teams for their top-rated achievements on the Reliance Mobile ICC Rankings for the Test and the ODI formats respectively. The Australia team deservedly has retained the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Mace and the South Africa team has displayed its mettle by giving them a close fight to top the ODI format rankings.

“We are privileged to be associated with the Reliance Mobile ICC Rankings – the ICC authorised ratings which enhance competitiveness in the game and provide greater challenges to the players and teams to push the envelope constantly to deliver superlative performances. This is good for the game and the fans can continue to use the Reliance Mobile Rankings as the official reservoir of information to enable them to keep track of the performances of their favourite teams and players.

“Through the association with the ICC Rankings, we are keen that our brand, Reliance Mobile, plays an important role in enhancing the competitive edge that the game of cricket offers to its millions of supporters the world over,” he added.

Before the Test series that finished in Cape Town on Sunday, Australia’s lead in the Test Championship had been cut to five ratings points and a series win of any kind would have been enough for South Africa to go top. But after its disappointment of losing 2-1 at home to the Proteas, Australia emerged stronger and more determined than ever to stay on top of the world and managed to secure a 2-1 series win of its own.

Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship (as of 25 March)

Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship (as of 25 March)

For information on the ICC Player Rankings go to: www.reliancemobileiccrankings.com.

Note: SNTV will be sending out a video news release from today’s presentation in Johannesburg in a feed later today. Please consult your usual contacts for details. In addition, ICC’s official photographer Getty Images has photographs from the ceremony. The usual contacts apply.
Background information:

The Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship mace is presented to the team that leads the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship. After being in Australian hands since 2003, the mace was in danger of becoming the possession of South Africa but a 2-1 series win for Ricky Ponting’s team denied the Proteas of that honour.

In addition to taking possession of the mace, the team that is ranked number one on the table on the annual cut-off date of 1 April wins US$175,000 with the runner-up (South Africa on this occasion) receiving US$75,000.

The mace was produced by the then British Crown Jeweller, Asprey & Garrard, in 2001, which was commissioned to make a distinctive prize designed to stand out from other cricket trophies. The designers produced a 90cm silver and gold-plated trophy based on a cricket stump as its shank, topped by an orb that represents the cricket world – both geographically and through the inclusion of the emblems of all 10 ICC Members that have played Test cricket.

The stump and the orb combine to portray the mace, regarded as a symbol of authority and prestige. This is regarded as an appropriate combination given the rich history of Test cricket and its image as the most traditional and purest form of the game. The mace sits on a wooden base with a silver-plated plaque in front with room for engravings of the sides to hold it. The mace was valued at stg£30,000 in 2001 and automatically passes from one team to another as results confirm a change of leadership in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table.

The Reliance Mobile ODI Championship is the same concept as its Test counterpart but involves 12 teams as opposed to nine and is competed for in the 50-over format of the international game.

At the 1 April cut-off date each year, the side in possession of the ODI Championship shield wins US$175,000 with the runner-up receiving US$75,000.