Rousing reception in Kandy for star Murali on Oct. 16

by Upananda JAYASUNDERA -Kandy Sports Special Corr

CRICKET: It's celebration time on Saturday, October 16 at Queens Hotel, Kandy for Sri Lanka's World Test bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan. Sri Lanka's 'Doosra' specialist Muralitharan hit the top spot in World Cricket when he grabbed 800 Test wickets in a glorious career and then 'called it a day'.

A good deed must be given due recognition, as the saying foes and sports conscious Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake and assisted by Anusha Sivarajah - the Minister of Sports - Central Province and Secretary of Sports and Industries Central Province and H.G. Ariyaratne - Director of Sports Central Province have organised a lavish function to recognise the deed of Muralitharan.

Muralitharan, a product of St. Anthony's College, Katugastota started as a fast bowler when he was a junior cricketer, but his coach Sunil Fernando thought otherwise and Fernando wanted his champion Murali to change his course of action to spin bowling - and that did the trick.

Muralitharan had many records to his credit. He had the highest number of International wickets in Tests and ODIs combined together - 1.275 as of May 6, 2009. He was the only player to take 50 or more wickets against every Test playing nation. Muralitharan and the late Jim Laker of England are the only bowlers to have taken 9 wickets in a Test innings twice.

Muralitharan has played World Cup Cricket in 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007 has captured 53 World Cup wickets in 31 matches.

Muralitharan has the unique distinction of getting 10 or more wickets in a match against all other 9 Test Playing nations as well as capturing over 50 wickets against each of them.

He has also obtained 7 or more wickets in an innings against five nations - namely England, India, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe.