Extra prize cash for top Test sides

The International Cricket Council will more than double the prize-money for the No 1 Test team from 2013 in order to boost the profile of the most traditional form of international cricket.

England currently top the rankings but that position may be under threat before this year’s cut-off date in April if they lose a third successive Test against Pakistan. The match gets underway tomorrow.

An ICC statement read: “A total of £2.4million in prize money will be shared among the top four sides on 1 April 2013, 2014 and 2015 after the ICC board approved a proposal to substantially increase incentives to promote Test match cricket in the period before the ICC Test Championship event in 2017.”

Previously, the No 1 team got £110,000 but in future will receive a minimum of £283,000 rising to £315,000 in 2015.

Meanwhile, Australia continued their recent dominance over India with a resounding 31-run victory in the first Twenty20 international staged at Sydney Olympic Park. The hosts, batting first, notched 171 for four, while India struggled to 140 for six to trail 1-0 in the two-match series.