Inzamamul-Haq has I a ken over from Steve Waugh as the number one batsman in the Coopers & Lybr

and Ratings. Waugh had topped the ratings since May 1995. Inzamam is the first Pakistan baismart to top the ratings since Javed Miandad in 1989. according to a December 10 ranking of the UK-based organisation.

Inzamam's climb reflects the general ascendancy of Asian batsman in current Test cricket. Seven of the Coopers & Lybrand top ten are now from Pakistan. India or Sri Lanka. Tendulkar has been a regular in the world top five, while Ar-avinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Rahul Dravid first entered the top ten of the ratings earlier this year. Newcomers to the top flight of the ratings since September are Aamir Sohail of Pakistan (now eighth) and Saurav Ganguly of India (ninth).

Not since the late 1970s have India and Pakistan enjoyed so much sustained batting success — those were the days of Sunil Gavaskar. Gundappa Vlswanath and Miandad. Player for player. Pakistan now look to be a good match for Australia. These are the leading two teams in Test cricket, and both countries have three bowlers

(iw.. pace, one spinner) in the wo: J top ten

at their weakest level for more than thirty years. There is currently no West Indian batsman in the top ten of the ratings: both Brian Lara and Shivnar-ine Chanderpaul dropped several places after the disastrous series in Pakistan. (There is some comfort, however, that Sherwin Campbell and Cari Hooper have climbed into the top twenty after some individual success In that lost series).

West Indies bowling also looks more ordinary than it has for a very long time. Curtly Ambrose has dropped to second glace in the ratings, and Ian ishop has fallen out of the top ten. Only Courtney Walsh improved his rating in Pakistan, climbing six places to ninth.