DUBAI – India have retained the ICC Test Championship Mace and won thepurse of $ 1 million for a third year running after finishing at the top ofthe MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings on the cut-off date of 1 April, whileNew Zealand have ensured second place.
A top place finish was never in doubt for India, captained by Virat Kohli,the number one Test batsman in the world while New Zealand’s consistentperformances over the past year saw them climb from third position, needingthem to only avoid losing the home series against Bangladesh last month tofinish at the same position.
The Kane Williamson-led side, who also had the satisfaction of seeing theircaptain get the ICC Spirit of Cricket award for 2018, earnt $ 500,000 afterfinishing with 108 points, eight behind India.
South Africa, who had finished second the previous two times, will now geta prize money of $200,000 for finishing third with 105 points whileAustralia who edged out Engalnd on decimal points at 104 points bag$100,000.
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International Cricket Council chief executive Manu Sawhney congratulatedthe Indian team while reiterating the importance of Test cricket andlooking forward to the start of the ICC World Test Championship later thisyear.
