Muralitharan consolidates top position

Muttiah Muralitharan heads the Pricewaterhouse Coopers’ ratings for Test bowlers

Wisden Cricinfo staff10-May-2004Muttiah Muralitharan heads the Pricewaterhouse Coopers’ ratings for Test bowlers. The latest list was announced after the first Test between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka at Harare. In the same game, Muralitharan overtook Courtney Walsh’s Test record of 519 wickets when he had Mluleki Nkala caught by Mahele Jayawardene at short leg.There is no change in the top 15 positions in the bowlers list, with Shaun Pollock and Shoaib Akhtar retaining second and third spots. The most significant improvement has been that of Nuwan Zoysa, who has moved up 17 places to the 35th spot. Zoysa picked up eight wickets in Sri Lanka’s latest demolition job at Harare.

Rank	Bowler	Points	Average
1	Muralitharan	907	22.76
2	Pollock	837	21.46
3	Shoaib	826	24.47
4	Harmison	802	24.32
5	Warne	777	25.42
6	McGrath	775	21.71
7	Kumble	751	28.22
8	Gillespie	746	25.56
9	Ntini	722	29.67
10	Tuffey	673	28.74

There is not much change in the batting list too, with the top 13 positions remaining unchanged. After amassing hundreds at Harare, Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu have improved their standings considerably. Jayasuriya is in 22nd place, up five spots, while Atapattu improves six places to 32nd.

Rank	Batsman	Points	Average
1	Lara	897	53.35
2	Dravid	892	58.09
3	Hayden	881	57.48
4	Ponting	864	54.71
5	Kallis	833	54.07
6	Gibbs	815	49.40
7	Inzamam	785	49.63
8	Tendulkar	784	57.39
9	Sehwag	782	52.72
10	Smith	759	58.67