On last day of India-Sri Lanka first test, the stadium in Sri Lanka was serried. It was sure that Sri Lanka would win the match but the faces of audience were not charming because they came to see the indelible event of the test cricket that is 800th wicket for Muttiah Muralitharan. With Ojha’s wicket there was an end to the suspense. Though India lost the match, players and Indian audience welcomed the record of Muralitharan-the Magnum Opus of cricket.

Muttiah Muralitharan is first and perhaps the last bowler to reach the mark of taking 800 wickets in tests. Far from him Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619) are in 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. The other spin legend Shane Warne expressed the same opinion saying “I don’t think anyone will get there.., well done to Murali”. Murali played 133 matches for 18 years but these days any player isn’t playing these many matches in test cricket.  After the entry of T20 format many lost interest in test matches. Actual caliber and stamina of a player is recognised when he plays test matches. Then after we can get a good player especially a bowler so it is not exaggeration by saying that that Mural’s record is unassailable.  Many people also feel that it is an end of ‘off-spin’ era.

Though there were many controversies on Mural’s style of bowling he confidently fought and pulverized them. It was scientifically proven by Hong Kong University team in 1996 that Murali wasn’t throwing the ball. At the end of the day ICC (International Cricket Council) cleared him off the charges.

It’s a great loss for Sri Lankan team with retirement of such a magnificent bowler. Before Mural’s debut, lanka managed to win only two out of thirty eight matches. After murali’s arrival Lanka won 2 matches in first 5 matches itself. In 18 years of his career, Murali continued his diligence in making lanka to walk in winning path. He played key role in 54 test wins out of the total matches that lanka won (61) by taking 438 wickets and with an average of 16.18.  Murali has picked up 10 wickets in a test 22 times and he has picked up 5 wickets in a test 67 times. Muralitharan turned as a spinner on the advice of his coach Fernandez.  Mahela Jayawardane has taken 77 catches off Muralitharan’s bowling, the most by a bowler –fielder(non-wicketkeeper)combination in tests. Muralitharan’s best was 16/220.  His average of 22.72 in 133 matches is also a record; it will probably stand over like that of Sir Donald Bradman’s… It is hard to find another Murali.

Murali has done even humanitarian work. He promoted the foundation of goodness’s project to rebuild more than thousand houses spread over 24 villages that were affected by tsunami in 2004. He has also contributed to a project in Mankulam that seeks to use sport as a medium for alleviating poverty.

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IS IT THE TIME TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO ONE-DAY CRICKET -Prof K.Nageshwar