Lara takes top spot in PwC ratings

Brian Lara's amazing run-spree - 742 runs in his last five Tests - has ensured that he has overtaken Matthew Hayden as the best batsman in the world, according to the Pricewaterhouse Cooper's Test ratings. Lara scored 533 runs in the four-Test series against Australia, and then sealed the issue with 209 against Sri Lanka - his fifth Test century in seven Tests against them.

Lara's 22-point lead should ensure that he holds on to the top spot for a few more weeks, but Matthew Hayden, currently in second place, will have an opportunity to displace Lara when Australia take on minnows Bangladesh in a two-Test series next month. Michael Vaughan, who started the year at the top of the table, slips to fifth place.

Rank	Player	Points
1	Brian Lara	881
2	Matthew Hayden	859
3	Ricky Ponting	849
4	Sachin Tendulkar	843
5	Michael Vaughan	839
6	Jacques Kallis	820
7	Adam Gilchrist	814
8	Inzamam-ul-Haq	793
9	Rahul Dravid	789
10	Herschelle Gibbs	778

The bowlers' list was headed by Shaun Pollock with 873 points, 12 ahead of Glenn McGrath, who is in second place.

Rank	Player	Points
1	Shaun Pollock	873
2	Glenn McGrath	861
3	Muttiah Muralitharan	856
4	Harbhajan Singh	746
5	Jason Gillespie	723
6	Andrew Caddick	705
7	Makhaya Ntini	692
8	Shoaib Akhtar	691
9	Anil Kumble	688
10	Jacques Kallis	682