The ICC Test Championship Mace is an award currently given to the winner of the ICC World Test Championship final. However, till 2019, it was awarded annually to the top-ranked Test team (as per April 1 cut-off) in the ICC Test Championship (2003–2019).
 ICC Test Championship Mace | |
| Awarded for | Winning the ICC Test Championship (2003–2019) ICC World Test Championship (2021-present) |
|---|---|
| Presented by | ICC |
| History | |
| First award | ICC Test Championship: 2003 ICC World Test Championship: 2021 |
| First winner | ICC Test Championship: Australia (2003) ICC World Test Championship:  New Zealand (2021) |
| Most wins | Australia (9 times) |
| Most recent | Australia (9th title, 2023) |
History
editThe mace's original design dates back to 2000, when it was crafted by Trevor Brown, a trophy designer employed at Thomas Lyte.[1][2] In 2021, the mace underwent a redesign, and the updated version was meticulously crafted by hand at the workshop of Thomas Lyte in London.[1][3]
Prior to the introduction of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, the mace was awarded to the team at the top of the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings.[1][2] Since the inception of the WTC Final, the mace has been awarded to the winning team, with the New Zealand team being the first recipient under this new system.[1][4]
Design
editThe mace is made from sterling silver and gold plates, with a hardwood base.[1][4] Its design features a handle resembling a cricket stump, wrapped in a silver-gilt laurel band.[1][3] The top of the mace is notable for its depiction of a gold-plated cricket ball within a global map, inspired by the sight of a cricketer holding a stump as a souvenir after a match.[1][5]
The design incorporates longitude lines similar to those on a globe, creating reflections against the golden cricket ball.[1] These lines were shaped using hot forging and soldered together to form the globe shape.[1] Around this globe is a belt displaying the insignia of the 12 Test nations participating, with space to include additional nations in the future.[1][3]
List of mace winners
editICC Test Championship (2003–2019)
edit| Year | Team | Captain | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2003 | Australia
|
Steve Waugh | |
| April 2004 | Ricky Ponting | [6] | |
| April 2005 | |||
| April 2006 | |||
| April 2007 | |||
| April 2008 | |||
| April 2009 | |||
| April 2010 |  India
|
MS Dhoni | [6] |
| April 2011 | |||
| April 2012 |  England
|
Alastair Cook | [7][6] |
| April 2013 |  South Africa
|
Graeme Smith | [8][6] |
| April 2014 | |||
| April 2015 | Hashim Amla | ||
| April 2016 | Australia
|
Steve Smith | [6] |
| April 2017 | India
|
Virat Kohli | [9][6] |
| April 2018 | |||
| April 2019 |
ICC World Test Championship
edit| Year | Final host(s) | Final | Ref. | Winning Captain | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | Winners | Result | Runners-up | Player of the match | ||||
| 2019–2021 | England
|
Rose Bowl, Southampton |
New Zealand
249 & 140/2 |
New Zealand won by 8
wickets Scorecard |
India
217 & 170 |
Kyle Jamieson
|
[10][11][12] | Kane Williamson
|
| 2021–2023 | England
|
The Oval, London |
Australia
469 & 270/8d |
Australia won by 209 runs Scorecard |
India
296 & 234 |
Travis Head
|
[13][14][15] | Pat Cummins
|
| 2023–2025 | England
|
Lord's, London |
TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Behind the scenes: Making of ICC Test Championship Mace presented to New Zealand". June 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Savory, Logan (July 27, 2021). "World Test Cricket Championship silverware en route to Invercargill". Stuff.
- ^ a b c "A royal touch for Test world champions". www.dailymirror.lk.
- ^ a b "How The Mace For The ICC World Test Championship Winner Was Created | Watch Video - News18". www.news18.com.
- ^ Oberoi, Saatvik (June 23, 2021). "How The World Test Championship Mace Is Made And Who Won It?".
- ^ a b c d e f "A retrospective: How the mace has changed hands". www.icc-cricket.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12.
- ^ Wilson, Andy (August 14, 2011). "Andrew Strauss to receive ICC mace for England's world ranking success". The Guardian.
- ^ "Smith presented with Test mace". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ "India retain Test Championship Mace for third year in a row". April 1, 2019.
- ^ "World Test Championship final: New Zealand beat India on sixth day to become world champions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand crowned World Test Champions after thrilling final day". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "India v New Zealand: World Test Championship final, day five – as it happened". The Guardian. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Australia vs India | ICC World Test Championship | ICC". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
- ^ "Australia crowned ICC World Test Champions with win over India". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ Gallan, Daniel (11 June 2023). "World Test Championship final: Australia beat India by 209 runs – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2023.