21 January,2009 08:41 AM IST | | Khalid A-H Ansari
Australia are still marginally ahead of South Africa in the ICC Test rankings, but the parent world body appears to be in an unholy hurry to get the $US100,000 trophy back from the world champions.
Despite losing 2-1 to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series Down Under, the title of world champions, which will again be contested when Australia tour South Africa next month, still belongs to Ricky Ponting's considerably enfeebled team because of retirements and injuries.
But, judging by the demand of the ICC that Australia hand back the trophy (which they have held for all eight years of its existence), it would appear the mandarins in Dubai have already decided that the world title will change hands when the titans clash in Africa.
Cricket Australia's new office in Melbourne was designed around the gold-and-silver jewel-speckled trophy. A gaping hole will be left behind after its return to the ICC headquarters.
"We have held it ever since the ICC Test rankings were introduced in May 2001, so apart from the four months (when South Africa claimed it), it's been with us.
"Our building was designed around the trophy. We are most certainly planning on bringing it back from South Africa. If that does not eventuate we may have to get some Polyfilla (putty) and fill the space in our foyer," CA spokesman Peter Young told the Sydney Morning Herald mock seriously yesterday.
