Sri Lanka's spin ace Muttiah Muralitharan has emerged as the CEAT International Cricketer of the Year 2000-01. Murali topped the CEAT Cricket Ratings with a tally of 111 points, 16 ahead of the first runner-up, his own team-mate Marvan Atapattu.

The CEAT Year of 2000-01 has been a memorable one for Murali. Among his most unforgettable feats this year were his 13-wicket haul in a Test match against the South Africans at Galle, a spell of 7-30 against India which was the best-ever performance by any bowler in one-day internationals, and of course, his 300th Test wicket.

The 'Top Five'in the CEAT Cricket Ratings were:

• Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Laka) 111 pts.
• Marvan Atapattu (Sri Lanka) 95 pts.
• Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) 93 pts.
• Jacques Kallis ( South Africa) 87 pts.
• Sachin Tendulkar (India) 85 pts.

Sachin Tendulkar's CEAT Efficiency Quotient (CEQ) of 3.04 was the highest among the leading contenders for the Award.

South Africa have topped the CEAT Team of the Year Ratings. Three Test series wins, including one in the Caribbean and a successful run in one-day internationals have enabled South Africa to top the Ratings with a tally of 98 points, which included 57 from the 14 Tests and 41 from the 26 ODIs which they played during the CEAT Year.

Previous winners of the 'CEAT International Cricketer of the Year' Award are:

• Brian Lara (1995-96)
• Venkatesh Prasad (1996-97)
• Sanath Jayasuriya (1997-98)
• Jacques Kallis (1998-99)
• Sourav Ganguly (1999-00).

The 'CEAT Team of the Year' Award was instituted in 1996-97. The Award has since been won by:

• Pakistan (1996-97).
• Australia (1997-98 and 1999-00)
• South Africa (1998-99).

© CEAT