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Australia regain ICC Test Championship mace after 6 years

Australia received ICC Test Championship mace for the record ninth time since its introduction in 2002.

Smith mace
David Richardson handing the mace to Australia captain Steven Smith © ICC

Australia received ICC Test Championship mace for the record ninth time since its introduction in 2002. International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief David Richardson handed the coveted prize to the Australian captain Steven Smith, who guided his team to 10 Test triumphs since 2015. As a matter of fact, Australia won the first eight maces, from 2002 to 2009. It was later handed to India in 2010 and 2011 for stealing the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings from Australia. After a six-year gap, the mighty Aussies regain the championship mace by putting up top-drawer performances in the longest format. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test at Pallekele

“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 Richardson told icc-cricket.com.

After a long T20 season, the cricket-lovers finally get to enjoy the red-ball cricket. “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. Also read: Sri Lanka cricket lodge complaint against Muttiah Muralitharan

Australia have been playing exceptional Test cricket for the past 18 months, eventually reaching the No. 1 spot. Paying tribute to the ICC, Smith said, “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.”

Australia will play three-Test series against Sri Lanka, commencing July 26. “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. Also read: Australia announce starting XI for 1st Test against Sri Lanka

This year’s mace was decided on the rankings based until April 1, 2016. However, the race for the next race will be a tight one, as the top four teams are very close in terms of points. It all boils down to how Australia, India, Pakistan and England perform until April 1, 2017.

If India whitewash West Indies and Pakistan manage to draw series with England, India will jump to the No. 1 position. For Australia to retain the mace, they will have to beat Sri Lanka in their own backyard.

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