Morgan catches the spirit of upcoming South Africa - Australia series

ICC President meets up with Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship mace in Johannesburg More chances for public to see the mace confirmed for Johannesburg (Saturday) and Durban (Sunday)
ICC President David Morgan caught the spirit of the upcoming South Africa – Australia Test series on Thursday when he attended a public display of the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship mace in Johannesburg.

Mr Morgan, in the city for a series of meetings ahead of next week’s first Test, saw first-hand people’s interest in and excitement at the mace’s appearance at the Sandton City Shopping Center.

The prize, awarded to the team that tops the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table, is currently held by Australia but a series win for the Proteas will see Graeme Smith’s side take over at the head of the ladder.

That will earn South Africa not only the mace, but also the chance to call itself the best Test side in the world – it already has that title in ODI cricket by topping that listing – and US$175,000, the money on offer to the line-up that leads the Test table on the annual cut-off date of 1 April.

Mr Morgan said: “The Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship mace is a fantastic trophy and putting it on display is a great way to generate interest in the upcoming series by letting the public see what’s at stake.

“The interest levels here are already high after South Africa’s successes in Australia in December and January and if we can raise even greater awareness of the upcoming series with events like this then hopefully that will translate into great crowds and a great atmosphere at each of the three Tests.

“The public I saw today certainly seemed excited by the possibility of South Africa taking over the number one ranking and it’s pleasing that we can make them feel closer to the action by giving them a chance to see the mace first-hand.

“Test cricket is the pinnacle of our great sport and by promoting it as much as we can we will help to ensure its continuing good health as one of our three forms of the game at international level.”

The South Africa public will get further chances to see the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship mace ahead of the series with additional appearances now confirmed for the biggest prize in Test cricket.

• The mace will return to Sandton City Shopping Center on Saturday 21 February, where it will once again be on display between 12 noon and two o’clock in the Banking Mall.

• And the following day, Sunday 22 February, it will appear in Durban at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping in the Expo Explore Court, also between 12 noon and two o’clock.

Members of the public will get the chance to see the mace and take photos of a trophy that has been in Australia’s keeping since May 2003.

In fact, since the mace was inaugurated in May 2001, it has only been out of Australia’s hands for five months, from January to May 2003, when South Africa topped the ladder.

ICC Manager – Media and Communications Brian Murgatroyd will be available at both venues for media interviews.

The Test series between South Africa and Australia begins in Johannesburg on 26 February. Matches are also set to take place in Durban (beginning 6 March) and Cape Town (beginning 19 March) and tickets are still available through usual outlets.

South Africa will secure the mace if it wins the Test series as that will take it to the top of the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table. A drawn series or a win for Australia will see Ricky Ponting’s side retain its hold on the prize.

Background on the Reliance Mobile Test Championship mace:

The Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship mace is presented to the team that leads the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship.

It has been in Australia’s hands for all but five months (January – May 2003, when South Africa topped the table) since it was inaugurated in May 2001.

South Africa will head the table and reclaim the mace if it beats Australia in the three-match series. But Australia will retain possession of the mace if it draws or wins the series.

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 mace and base weigh a combined total of 10kgs.

Current standings in the Reliance Mobile Test Championship can be found here: http://www.icc-cricket.com/

The side that tops the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table on 1 April each year collects US$175,000 for doing so. The second-placed side receives US$75,000.

South Africa has already secured a guaranteed US$175,000 for its performances in One-Day International cricket as no side can catch it at the top of the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship table ahead of the 1 April cut-off.