ICC Test Championship Mace explained

ICC Test Championship Mace
Presenter:ICC
Firstwinner:

  • (ICC Test Championship, 2003)

  • (ICC World Test Championship, 2021)
Mostwins: (9 times)
Mostrecent: (9th title, 2023)
Givenfor:Winning the ICC World Test Championship (2021-Present)
ICC Test Championship (2003–2019)

The ICC Test Championship Mace is an awardcurrently given to the winner of the ICC World Test Championship from 2021. However, previously, it was awarded annually to the top-ranked Test team (as per April 1 cut-off) in the ICC Test Championship (2003–2019).

History

The 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

The 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

ICC Test Championship (2003–2019)

!Year!Team!Captain! Ref.
April 2003Ricky Ponting[6]
April 2004
April 2005
April 2006
April 2007
April 2008
April 2009
April 2010MS Dhoni
April 2011
April 2012Alastair Cook[7]
April 2013Graeme Smith[8]
April 2014
April 2015Hashim Amla
April 2016Steve Smith
April 2017Virat Kohli[9]
April 2018
April 2019

ICC World Test Championship

YearFinal host(s)FinalRef.Winning Captain
VenueWinnersResultRunners-upPlayer of the match
2019–2021 England----249 & 140/2New Zealand won by 8wickets
Scorecard
----217 & 170 Kyle Jamieson[10] [11] [12] Kane Williamson
2021–2023 England----469 & 270/8dAustralia won by 209 runs
Scorecard
----296 & 234 Travis Head[13] [14] [15] Pat Cummins
2023–2025 EnglandTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Behind the scenes: Making of ICC Test Championship Mace presented to New Zealand. June 23, 2021.
  2. Web site: World Test Cricket Championship silverware en route to Invercargill. Logan. Savory. July 27, 2021. Stuff.
  3. Web site: A royal touch for Test world champions. www.dailymirror.lk.
  4. Web site: How The Mace For The ICC World Test Championship Winner Was Created | Watch Video - News18. www.news18.com.
  5. Web site: How The World Test Championship Mace Is Made And Who Won It?. Saatvik. Oberoi. June 23, 2021.
  6. Web site: A retrospective: How the mace has changed hands. www.icc-cricket.com.
  7. News: Andrew Strauss to receive ICC mace for England's world ranking success. Andy. Wilson. August 14, 2011. The Guardian.
  8. Web site: Smith presented with Test mace. ESPNcricinfo.
  9. Web site: India retain Test Championship Mace for third year in a row. April 1, 2019.
  10. News: World Test Championship final: New Zealand beat India on sixth day to become world champions . BBC Sport . 23 June 2021.
  11. Web site: New Zealand crowned World Test Champions after thrilling final day . International Cricket Council. 26 June 2021.
  12. Web site: India v New Zealand: World Test Championship final, day five – as it happened . The Guardian . 22 June 2021 . 26 June 2021.
  13. Web site: Australia vs India ICC World Test Championship ICC . 2023-03-14 . www.icc-cricket.com . en.
  14. Web site: 11 June 2023 . Australia crowned ICC World Test Champions with win over India . International Cricket Council.
  15. News: 11 June 2023 . World Test Championship final: Australia beat India by 209 runs – as it happened . The Guardian. 11 June 2023 . Gallan . Daniel .