Proteas skipper Graeme Smith has been presented with the Test Championship mace after leading his side to the top of the ICC rankings.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith has been given the ICC Test Championship mace and a prize of £300,000 for taking his side to the top of the five-day rankings.
The cut off date for the awards is the 1 April and the side top of the Test rankings at that point receives the award.
With no Test matches to be played between now and the start of next month, South Africa can be confirmed as officially the best Test side in the world.
“I am truly honoured and humbled to receive the Reliance ICC Test Championship mace and prize money, not just on behalf of my self, the players and the team management but on behalf of all South Africans,” Smith said on NDTV.
It is the first time South Africa have been No.1 in the world since the current ranking system came into practice in 2003, beating England and India to the top spot.
The Proteas also had the chance to top the one-day rankings during their recent tour against Pakistan. The side needed to win the ODI series 5-0 but the eventual 3-2 victory meant the South Africans remained in fourth.
It has been an incredible 18 months of cricket for Smith’s team with players from South Africa currently topping the batting, bowling and all-rounder Test rankings.
Batsman Hashim Amla heads the batting list with AB de Villiers in second, whilst Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander top the bowling rankings and Jacques Kallis is the No.1 all-rounder.
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