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“We all appreciate the enormous privilege of representing our country and taking on the responsibility that goes with it,” Smith said after he was presented with the award and a cheque worth US$450 000 in a ceremony at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
The mace is presented to the team that tops the Reliance ICC Test Championship on the April 1 cut-off date. And for the first time since the current ranking system was introduced in 2003, SA finished as the No 1-ranked test side.
“South Africa has all the reasons to be proud of its feat, as it is only the fourth team after Australia, India, and England to hold the mace,” Smith said.
SA claimed the mace from the then No 1 side England in the last English summer and successfully retained it by winning all five tests at home against New Zealand (2-0) and Pakistan (3-0).
While congratulating the team, Cricket SA president Chris Nenzani said the Proteas and coach Gary Kirsten had set a standard of excellence and integrity that represented all that was best in the world of sport.
He added that he hoped they would maintain their position on top for a considerable period of time.
“As we all know from past experience it is one thing to gain the No 1 ranking but it becomes even harder to retain it and the Proteas are well into their first year at the top.
“They have also opened up a considerable gap between themselves and their challengers and at various stages they have had the No 1 batsman (Hashim Amla), the No 1 bowler (Dale Steyn), and the No 1 allrounder (Jacques Kallis) in this format of the game.”
Reliance Communications President and CEO Gurdeep Singh also congratulated the team for its achievements.
“We would like to congratulate Graeme Smith and his boys for emerging as the world’s best test-playing team on the Reliance ICC Test Championship Table,” Singh said.
“Each player in the South Africa cricket team has demonstrated a hunger to succeed in the toughest format of the game, and the team’s consistency over the last few years has seen South Africa reach this top position, winning them the Reliance ICC Test Championship mace.” — Sapa.
Online Reporter