India receive $1 million for finishing as No1 Test team for third straight year

Sudhir Gupta 16:34 01/04/2019
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Virat Kohli. Image: ICC/Twitter.

    India retained the ICC Test Championship mace after finishing on top of the pile with 116 points. Virat Kohli’s team were awarded $1 million (Dh3.6m) for the third straight year for finishing top.

    India lost the Test series in South Africa 1-2 at the start of 2018 and were then thrashed 4-1 in the five-Test series in England. They beat Afghanistan in a one-off Test and the Windies 2-0 at home. India ended the season on a high after registering their first-ever series win in Australia 2-1.

    “Retaining the ICC Test Championship Mace once again is something we are all really proud of. Our team has been doing well across formats but it gives us extra pleasure to come out on top of the Test rankings. We all know of the importance of Test cricket and of how only the best can prosper in the format,” Kohli said in a statement.

    “Our team has a lot of depth and I am sure this will stand us in good stead once the ICC World Test Championship commences later this year. That is again something we are really looking forward to as it adds more context to Test match cricket.”

    India finished on 116 points with second-paced New Zealand on 108 points. The Kiwis, meanwhile, beat England 1-0 at home before clinching a historic Test series win in the UAE against Pakistan. Captain Kane Williamson said consistency was the most critical component of the team’s efforts in 2018/19.

    “It’s an awesome achievement for our side to finish second in the ICC Test Team Rankings and as a team we should be very proud. It’s come off the back of a lot of hard work and perseverance; not just by the eleven guys on the field, but the entire squad and support staff,” Williamson said.

    The Kiwis earned $500,000 (Dh1.8m) for finishing second in the championship.

    Recommended