So India are top of the world. Well, big deal.

This ICC Test match ranking list is just so much hype. What does it mean in the greater scope of world cricket?
Zilch.

Australia were top for what seemed a lifetime, then South Africa were top and it meant very little. Yes, I know the captains tried to talk it up, but it did not convince anyone.

Oddly, however, I suspect there is some sincerity in Sachin Tendulkar’s glee (no, make that satisfaction — Sachin does not do glee) in reaching the top on Sunday by winning the series against Sri Lanka.

Down the Track will always put its natural cynicism aside for the Little Master and pretend for a while that the No 1 ranking in Test cricket means something.

But what was more interesting was the sudden demise of Sri Lankan bowling.

Suddenly that cupboard is bare and the lot who did duty in the three Tests against India might have struggled on unresponsive wickets, but it worked for both sides and we didn’t hear Sree Sreenath complain.

Even the great Muttiah Muralitharan struggled and Sri Lanka realised they could not rely on him as a matchwinner in this series.

Most puzzling of all is the decline of Ajantha Mendis, who was thought to be the next best thing in spin bowling when he emerged last year with a greater variety of deliveries than came out of David Copperfield’s hat. In his first three Tests he took 26 wickets for just under 19. And he took them against the Indians, who are meant to be masters of playing spin.

Since playing Bangladesh in January this year Mendis has taken just 11 wickets at 62.9 with a strike rate of an astronomical 122.7.

In his only Test against India in the series just ended, he took one for 162 as India won by an innings. It was a far cry from his Tests last year at home when he had brilliant players of spin like VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid in knots.

It’s possible that he has been found out in some cases, but it would be sad if he were to vanish off the stage. He has been playing on some batting friendly wickets and he might need to adjust and focus on two or three special deliveries rather than have a long list of them.

Mainly, however, the Sri Lankan selectors must lose faith in him. Especially with Murali closing in on retirement at the age of 37. They need to persevere with a spinner who is just 24.

By Archie Henderson | Times Live