England will win a $175,000 jackpot for topping the world Test rankings if they win the series against Pakistan or lose by a single match, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Monday. The annual award is presented to the side that finishes at the head of the ICC Test championship table on April 1. England, who rose to world number one in ICC Test rankings by beating India 4-0 in August last year, face Pakistan in a three match series in Dubai from Tuesday.
“England will have a chance to win the $175,000 jackpot for topping the ICC Test championship table when it goes head-to-head with Pakistan in a three-Test series,” the ICC said. They will only lose the jackpot if Pakistan beat them either 2-0 or 3-0, with world number two side South Africa poised to benefit.
South Africa visit New Zealand for a three-Test series between March 7 to 27 and can still snatch the jackpot from England should their rivals lose by more than one Test and they win on their tour. “In case of a 1-0 or 2-1 series loss, England will finish on 120 ratings points, one ahead of South Africa (assuming it wins 3-0 against New Zealand),” the ICC explained. “The side that finishes second in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table on the 1 April cut-off date will receive $75,000.” England captain Andrew Strauss said his team had not thought about the jackpot.
