England has secured top spot in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table at the April 1 cut-off date, after the first Test between New Zealand and South Africa ended in a draw in Dunedin on Sunday. This is the first time, since the current rankings system was introduced in 2003, that England has topped the table at the cut-off date. As such, it will retain the Championship mace and will also receive a cheque of US$ 175,000 which is presented annually to the side that tops the table on the cut-off date. England has been holding on to the number-one position since dethroning India from the top spot after inflicting a 4-0 defeat in the last English summer. At the end of the series against India, England led its closest rival and second-ranked South Africa by seven ratings points.