Graeme Smith receives Reliance ICC Test Championship mace and cheque

South Africa captain Graeme Smith on Thursday received the prestigious Reliance ICC Test Championship mace and enhanced prize money of US$450,000 for leading the team that finished on top of the Reliance ICC Test Championship table on the annual cut-off date of 1 April.

This is the first time, since the current ranking system was introduced in 2003 that South Africa had finished as the number-one ranked Test side on the 1 April cut-off date.

Vince van der Bijl, former Natal, Transvaal and Middlesex fast bowler and currently ICC's Umpires and Referees Manager, presented the mace to Smith who also collected the cheque of US$450,000 from Cricket South Africa (CSA) president Chris Nenzani along with South Africa's Minister of Sport and Recreation Mr Fikile Mbalula, in a ceremony that was staged at the Long Room Extension, The Wanderers in Johannesburg.

At the presentation, Smith said: "I am truly honoured and humbled to receive the Reliance ICC Test Championship mace and prize money, not just on behalf of myself, the players and the team management but on behalf of all South Africans. We all appreciate the enormous privilege of representing our country and taking on the responsibility that goes with it."

Van der Bijl said: "The mace is a symbol of excellence and recognition of a side's outstanding achievement in the toughest and most traditional format of the game.

"South Africa has all the reasons to be proud of its feat as it is only the fourth team after Australia, India and England to hold the mace. South Africa claimed the mace from the then No.1 side England in the last English summer and then successfully retained it by winning all the five home Tests."

CSA president Chris Nenzani said: "It gives me the greatest pleasure to congratulate coach Gary Kirsten, captain Graeme Smith and other members of the Test squad on their achievement of becoming the number-one side on the Reliance ICC Test Championship Table and staying at the top for what we hope will be a considerable period of time.

"As we all know from past experience it is one thing to gain the No. 1 ranking but it becomes even harder to retain it and the Proteas are well into their first year at the top. They have also opened up a considerable gap between themselves and their challengers and at various stages they have had the number-one batsman (Hashim Amla), the number-one bowler (Dale Steyn) and the number-one all-rounder (Jacques Kallis) in this format of the game.

"South Africa is proud of our boys. They have set a standard of excellence and integrity that represents all that is best in the world of sport."

Gurdeep Singh, President & CEO, Wireless Business, Reliance Communications, said: "We would like to congratulate Graeme Smith and his boys for emerging as the world's best Test-playing team on the Reliance ICC Test Championship Table.

"Each player in the South Africa cricket team has demonstrated a hunger to succeed in the toughest format of the game, and the team's consistency over the last few years has seen South Africa reach this top position, winning them the Reliance ICC Test Championship mace.

"We at Reliance wish South Africa the very best for the games ahead, and look forward to other Test playing sides picking up the gauntlet and coming back strong, thereby making future Reliance ICC Test Championship Tables even more competitive and entertaining."

Reliance ICC Test Championship table (as on 26 March)

Zimbabwe is currently unranked, as it has played insufficient matches. It has 263 points and a rating of 38.

(Developed by David Kendix)

Background information

The Reliance ICC Test Championship mace is presented to the team that tops the Reliance ICC Test Championship on the 1 April cut-off date.

It was in Australia's hands for all but three months (August-November 2009) since it was inaugurated in May 2003 before India claimed it after finishing on top of the table on the 1 April 2010 cut-off date.

England laid its hands on the mace when it beat India at home in August 2011. It then held on to it to receive the mace and cheque on the cut-off date in 2012.

Later in August 2012, England ceded the top position to South Africa in a 0-2 reversal at home.

Since then, Graeme Smith's men were only challenged by host Australia for the top spot, before winning the series 1-0 in November 2012.

Then, South Africa won all five Tests at home against New Zealand (2-0) and Pakistan (3-0) to consolidate its hold over the mace.

The dominant performance meant that South Africa sealed its position as the number-one ranked Test side on the 1 April cut-off date to retain not only the Test mace, but also earn itself an enhanced reward of US$450,000.

Previously, the top team in the Reliance ICC Test Championship Table received a cheque for US$175,000, which was increased in 2013 to US$450,000, rising to US$500,000 in 2015. From 2016 there will be further increases in Test prize money.

The increased incentive in the form of prize money was approved by the ICC Board in 2012 and was aimed to promote Test cricket in the period before the ICC Test Championship event in 2017.

A further US$750,000 will now be distributed amongst second-ranked England (US$350,000), third-ranked India (US$250,000) and fourth-placed Australia (US$150,000) on the cut-off date.

About the mace

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 ICC Test Championship table.