Ponting rules the roost

Ricky Ponting has finished 2003 as the highest-rated Test batsman in the world, after his matchwinning 257 at Melbourne helped Australia to level their four-Test series against India. Ponting, who was the only man to score more than 1500 runs in the calendar year, finished just ahead of Brian Lara and Matthew Hayden, the man with whom he sealed the Melbourne victory this morning.

Despite another fine innings at Melbourne, Rahul Dravid has slipped two places to No.4 - an indication of the extraordinarily high standards of batsmanship in the world at the moment. South Africa's Jacques Kallis and Gary Kirsten have both leapt up three places after their centuries at Durban this week, while New Zealand's Mark Richardson is rewarded for his perseverance, in standing up to a rampant Shoaib Akhtar at Wellington. But two of the stars of 2002, Sachin Tendulkar and Michael Vaughan, have both finished out of the top ten this year. Moreover, Tendulkar managed a mere 153 runs from nine innings.

There are no surprises at the top of the bowling rankings, where Muttiah Muralitharan confirmed his pre-eminence with 26 wickets in the recent series against England. Murali was not the leading wicket-taker in 2003 however - although had he played more than seven Tests he would no doubt have been streets ahead of the rest. Instead that honour went to Makhaya Ntini, with 59 wickets from 12 matches, including eight in that Durban victory.

"Each one of us has a task to do on the field," said Ntini. "It is all about concentration and knowing your role in the team and from there on it depends on how you work towards your goals. I had set myself a goal to be a top-wicket taker and this has now happened.

"Fitness also plays a big part," he added. "I try to prepare my body in such a way that to prevent injuries. Also the physical trainer is there to check and monitor my fitness, so it helps."

For the full rankings, click here.