Australia first holders of ICC Test Championship Trophy
Australia was officially confirmed as the best team in Test match cricket
when its captain, Stephen Waugh, was presented with the ICC Test
Championship trophy at Edgbaston today (4th July 2001).
The new Trophy is awarded to the country at the head of the ICC Test
Championship, introduced at the start of the England v Pakistan series in
May.
Australia tops the table with an average of 1.62 points from its 13
completed series, followed by South Africa (1.47 from 15 series) and England
(1.14 from 14 series).
"Australia has played magnificent Test match cricket in recent years,
culminating in its historic run of 16 consecutive victories. It is a very
worthy first recipient of the ICC Test Championship Trophy," said ICC Chief
Executive David Richards in making the presentation.
Replying on behalf of the Australian team Stephen Waugh commented:" The ICC
Test Championship is a great idea. Since the game began people have debated
which the best Test side is at anyone time. The introduction of this league
table, coupled with the ICC's ten year tours programme, means we will now
get a definitive answer to that question. It's a huge honour for Australia
to be the first team to hold the ICC Test Championship Trophy as the players
place enormous value on their success in this form of the game.
"It's great to see the traditional form of the game getting its due reward
and I hope the Championship will help ensure Test cricket retains its status
as the purest form of the game."
The distinctive mace design trophy was commissioned by the ICC from Asprey &
Garrard. Valued at £30,000, it will be awarded to all future teams that head
the Championship.
The current table, last updated at the conclusion of the drawn series
between Zimbabwe and India shows:
|
ICC Test Championship Table, July 2001 |
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Points | Average |
| Australia | 13 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 1.62 |
| South Africa | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 1.47 |
| England | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 1.14 |
| Sri Lanka | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 1.00 |
| New Zealand | 15 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 0.93 |
| West Indies | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 0.92 |
| India | 13 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 0.77 |
| Pakistan | 15 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 0.73 |
| Zimbabwe | 13 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 0.46 |
| Bangladesh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - |
The top two teams, Australia and South Africa, will play each other home
and away over the next nine months. Australia hosts SA in December and
travels to South Africa for the return encounter in February. The outcome of
the two series could have a direct bearing on the leadership of the table.
