Murali '43 not out' on April 17,

by A.C.D. Silva

A name that will never be forgotten in Sri Lanka's cricket is Muttiah Muralitharan and though he has really given up playing the game, he has done enough to support Sri Lanka's cricket. Friday April 17th 2015 happens to be "Murali's 43rd birthday and though his playing days are over, he has done the next best thing - he has done a lot of coaching both here in Sri Lanka and abroad to keep his name alive. Murali hails from Kandy and he had his early education at St. Anthony's College, Kandy and he made his Test debut against Australia at the Premadasa Stadium on August 28th 1992.

At a height of 5 feet 7 inches he came into the scene with a bang and after the opening 'Test' against Australia, he came into the one-day scene on August 12th 1993 against India in Colombo at the Premadasa Stadium.

In his career bowling averages, he has played 133 Test matches and played in 230 innings, bowled 44,039 balls, given away 18,180 runs and taken 800 wickets. Then in one-day matches, Murali has played in 349 matches, played in 340 innings, bowled 18, 763 balls, taken 534 wickets after giving away 12,287 runs.

Murali's great skill is his determination. Think of top spin in tennis. When the ball really dips in, it makes it hard for the batsman because they think it is going to land in a certain position but it lands somewhere else. That is what forces mistakes. The reason he can impart so many revolutions on the ball and still make it dip late, is thanks to his loose, supple wrist. It enables him to really make the ball talk. He makes it spin both ways and in all conditions.

Murali rose to prominence on 'Boxing Day'

Murali's career rose to prominence during the 1995 'Boxing Day' Test match against Australia at the MCG. It was there that the question over the legality of Muralitharan action was brought up. Yet the 'no-ball' issue failed to squash the rising career of Muralitharan. The following year in front of 50,000 fans at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Muralitharan along with the Sri Lankan team lifted the World Cup after beating Australia in the final.

This achievement lifted the Sri Lanka team in fame. Not only did the match see the rise of Sri Lanka cricket, but also the emergence of the rivalry between the two of the greatest spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Aussie Shane Warne.

Muralitharan's image had now been etched in to the memories of cricket lovers around the world. His Indian origins made him a star in India, his fighting spirit made him respected in Australia and his skill saw him feared around the world. The modern game had been created, batsmen no longer respected bowlers, captains no longer trusted bowlers to bowl economically and fielders were made to work extra-hard. With Muralitharan in the Sri Lankan team once again, the opus was the batsmen to construct innings. Muralitharan's skill with the ball extended to his knowledge of the game.

Murali studied the batsman

He set his fields meticulously and controlled the game in a manner similar to that of a conductor of an orchestra. Muralitharan came through some glorious moments in batting in 2009 against Bangladesh. Chasing 153 in the final of a tri-nation series game, Sri Lanka was reduced to 119 for 7 wickets before Muralitharan came to the wickets and turned into a new role smashed the Bangladesh bowling to collect 33 runs off 16 balls to seal the win. Now that Muralitharan has ended his bowling spree, the look will be out for spotting the next great spinner. Who will be able to basic over from Murali?