South Africa retains the number-one ranked Test side

Lahore: Cricket South Africa (CSA) today received a cheque of US$475,000 in recognition for its side finishing at the top of the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings at the annual 1 April cut-off date.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson presented the cheque to his CSA counterpart Haroon Lorgat, who received it on behalf of the side that topped the Test rankings for the second successive year.

South Africa has been holding the number-one Test spot since August 2012, and is the fourth side, after Australia, India and England to achieve this distinction.

While South Africa finished on top of the tree at the annual cut-off date, Australia claimed second place and won US$370,000, while India and England received US$265,000 and US$160,000 for finishing third and fourth, respectively.

Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings table (as on 15 April)

Rank    Team                        Points

1.        South Africa                127

2.        Australia                      115

3.        India                            112

4.        England                       107

5.        Pakistan                       100

6.        Sri Lanka                       89

7.        New Zealand                 87

8.        West Indies                    87

9.        Zimbabwe                      34

10.      Bangladesh                    19