CEAT International Cricketer of the Year and CEAT International Bowler of the Year - Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan is by far the best off-spinner of the modern era. His outstanding performances in the CEAT Year 2000-01 (1st May 2000 to 30th April 2001), included 13 wickets in a Test against South Africa at Galle in July 2000 and a spell of 7-30 against India at Sharjah in October 2000.

These were the best-ever scores in the history of one-day internationals until his teammate Chaminda Vaas surpassed him with 8-38 against Zimbabwe in the ongoing CEAT year.

Murali also became the first Sri Lankan and the third spin bowler in Test cricket history after Lance Gibbs (WI) and Shane Warne (AUS) to take 300 wickets during the CEAT year 2000-01. He has since become the second spinner after Warne and the fastest bowler (72 Tests) to reach the 400-wicket mark.

Murali topped the CEAT Cricket Rating for 2000-01 with a tally of 111 points, which includes a stunning 110 points for bowling alone.