Hard work brings Murali world bowling record

By A.C. de Silva

CRICKET: Hard work, they say, has its rewards. This is so true the way that Sri Lanka's ace spinner - off-spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan became Test cricket's world record beating bowler.

He bowled Paul Collingwood of England on the third morning first Test to claim his 709th wicket and thereby surpass his great rival Australian Shane Warne's world record tally of 708 and Murali took the wicket of tail-ender Hoggard who was stumped by wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardena for his 710th wicket.

Right now after the fine victory of Sri Lanka in the first Test, Muralitharan has total of 713 wickets.

So, it has been a wonderful climb to the top for this never-say-die bowler who had to get through many obstacles to reach that top must spot.

Murali previously held the record in 2004 when he overhauled West Indian fast bowler Coutney Walsh's mark of 519 wickets, only to be surpassed by Shane Warne.

Muralitheran said that he record that he has got was more important comparing it with his 2004 record. He said that Warne was playing then and Murali had predicted that whoever played longer will have the record. Warne stopped after the last Ashes series and Murali said that he is continuing to play.

The champion Sri Lankan bowler - Murali said that his record is likely to stay for a long time because his closest playing rival - Indian leg-spinner and now captain Anil Kumble who is close to retirement, is still far behind him with 573 wickets.

In getting to the world record, Muralitheran's best 'bowl' in an innings was 9 for 51 against Zimbabwe at the same Asgiriya ground.

Muralitharan was the most talked about bowler for some time and he will be the bowler that will centre spot. His bowling has been questioned a few years ago, but everyone seems to be satisfied about his action in the past few years.

Action passed officially

It is somewhat unfair to keep questioning his action when through the Test of time, and a system that has analysed and passed him, his action has been passed.

A physical deformity from birth does not allow him to straighten his bowling arm. This unusual wrist action allows him to impart prodigious spin that has deceived the most of the top batsmen. A critic once said: "Murali can turn the ball on concrete."

When Murali plays, he lifts the overall Sri Lanka performance because he adds to the team's confidence and morale. He can be called upon by his captain to get wickets or to slow down the run-rate.

It is not often that he is hit out of the attack. Batsmen appear to have difficulty in not only picking his stock delivery but also the ball that straightens and sometimes spins the other way.

To face him, batsmen can use the option to try and hit him out of the attack and destroy his confidence or otherwise play him out and not concede their wicket while collecting about 30 runs from his 10 overs or so. Either way, Murali is rarely dominated by any one.

Having watched any number of Muttiah Muralitharan's wicket hauls around the world, it is hard to distinguished anyone who can match him.

It was amid the lush surroundings of the ancient mountain kingdom of Kandy, where Murali was born and raised, and it is turned out to be a memorable occasion when he got at the record and went passed it.

Sri Lankan captains usually work out a way to attack the batsmen by using the Kandy wizard's unusual ability to spin the ball with his wrists and the way he has developed many varieties of deliveries.

The one which goes straight on is his most dangerous deliveries. It is interesting watching him lure batsmen to their downfall.

Disappointed

Sure he was hurt and disappointed when he was 'called' in Australia and the taunts which still come from the national of the World Cup champs.

Perhaps it is because they view it from a point of strength that it is easy to criticise something that is not identifiable. And Murali is not the only bowler Darrel Hair called in a Test for throwing; Zimbabwe's Grant Flower copped it in Bulawayo in September 2000 in the series against New Zealand.

At least Murali had the protection from the Sri Lanka team at the time of the throwing incident in late December 1995.

When Ross Emerson in Adelaide nailed him again in January 1999, Arjuna Ranatunga turned the episode into a personal vendetta when hauled before the disciplinary committee hearing over his reaction to Emerson's calling of the spinner. But his career has been troubled many times earlier over the legality of his bowling action.

Murali was called for throwing during tours to Australia in 1995-96 and 1998-99 and his bowling action has been likened to that of a javelin thrower by former Indian left-arm spinner Bishen Bedi. However, Murali's action has been cleared. The International Cricket Council, after a major investigation, ruled that due to his birth abnormality, his action is legal. The ICC even amended the law two years ago to allow a 15-degree flexibility in the bowling arm.

The controversy proved to be the turning point of his career as the overwhelming support of his teammates swelled the confidence of a previously shy character.

Paceman to spinner

The son of a hill country confectioner, Muralitheran learnt to play the game at St. Anthony's College, Katugastota. As a 14-year-old, he wanted to become a fast bowler, but his small frame and faltering action left him fighting for a place in his school team.

His coach at school persuaded him to switch to off-spin bowling and he met with immediate success. Coming back to the history-making Test, the Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene hailed his master spinner, saying Murali was not only "the best bowler in the world" but also the ideal team-mate.

"He is hungry for wickets but for him the team comes first," Jayawardene said. "I want to achieve a little bit more because I am still hungry for wickets," Muralitharan said.

Shane Warne, strongest opponent of Murali, however, paid rich tribute to the Sri Lankan: "Muralitharan's record will stand for ever."

For Murali, whose big turners twist like knives into batsmen (his doosra, though turns away) it has been more that cricketing effort. He has been under the scanner for his bowling action, he has had to repeatedly convince authorities that his method was legal.