Million-dollar bounty on the line in India-Australia series

Not that they should need one, but there's an added incentive for the Australian team if they manage to beat India in the upcoming Test series. And it is a huge incentive - US$1 million.

But it's not easy. It's going to take some doing. The ICC hands out the Test championship mace and the million-dollar prize money to the top-ranked Test team on April 1. To be there, Australians need not only beat India, but they need to beat them 3-0 or better. A result of this kind would help Australia leapfrog India - who currently lead them by 12 points - into the penthouse of the rankings building.

India, on the other hand, need to win just one match out of the four to ensure the million-dollar prize for themselves. But the losing need not lose heart. The ICC also hands out cash bonuses to the teams finishing 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the rankings. However, Australians have a chance of going down further in the pecking order, as South Africa's Test series against New Zealand also coincides with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. If the Proteas win their three-Test series 3-0, Australia would have to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to stay in the second place. The team finishing second gets US$500,000 whereas the team finishing third gets US$200,000.