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Young World
Man of all seasons
NANDITA SRIDHAR
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Capturing the world record at the second attempt, Murali admitted was more special than the first.
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He’s an excellent competitor and has been great for Sri Lankan cricket. He’s a great bloke too.
Photo: AFP
Hero: On and off the pitch.
When Muttiah Muralitharan breached Paul Collingwood’s stubborn defence at Kandy, it marked the off-spinner’s greatest achievement. Capturing the world record at the second attempt, as he admitted, was more special. An attempt was made to snatch the record from Shane Warne in Australia, but it was fitting that he achieved it at home.
Murali’s first few spells in international cricket in 1992 were looked at with disbelief. He generated a bizarre spin, with elastic wrists, and looked like a leg-spinner to the naked-eye at first. What followed thereafter was possibly the toughest phase of his career. Allegations of chucking tailed him across the globe, after he was called by umpire Darrell Hair during the Melbourne Test in 1995. Umpire Ross Emerson followed suit in an ODI. Despite being cleared by the ICC, there were doubts; but the man went about his business with quiet dignity. A lesser man would have crumbled.
Endurance and style
Amid the ICC’s 15-degree flexibility decision, allegations that he benefited from a naturally bent arm and receiving instructions not to bowl the “doosra”, Murali continued running through opposition and single-handedly winning matches for his country. The off-spinner’s remarkable work-ethic, stamina and the ability to spin it on any surface sometimes made it impossible to face him. England bore the brunt of one his most devastating spells, when he returned figures of 16 wickets for 220 runs at the Oval one-off Test. That performance gave the Lankans their first Test win in England. Milestone after milestone was reached, quicker than any other bowler in history. Opinions were divided on his action, but no one could deny the effort that went into his wickets and made him the bowler he was.
Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne, whose record Murali broke, commended the latter’s achievements. “Congratulations to Murali — he’s been a wonderful player for a long period of time,” said Warne. “He’s an excellent competitor and has been great for Sri Lankan cricket. He’s a great bloke too.”
Years of bowling marathon spells haven’t reduced his intensity and hunger for wickets. A lot of his contemporaries are predicting 1000 wickets, but Murali’s response has been guarded. Despite revealing that his focus now would be on one-day cricket, the 35-year-old’s endurance and style is perfectly tailored for Test cricket. The longer-version of the game is where he’s the most destructive.
Always ready to help youngsters and fellow spinners, Murali is a role-model. What he brings to the sport is not just great bowling, but a willingness to impart knowledge.
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