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That Muttiah Muralitharan is the best of his kind in the world there is no doubt. With yet another spell of high class off spin bowling, he spun a web around the hapless Zimbabwe batsmen luring them to their destruction.

After the end of the first day's play when he had pocketed nine scalps, it was every Sri Lankan's wish and hope that he would get the remaining wicket and join two other bowlers who have achieved this great feat, Jim Laker of England and Anil Kumble of India.

But that was not to be. When those glued to their TVs, spectators on the ground and listeners to radio were biting nails in anticipation of Muralitharan scalping that prized wicket, Vaas got rid of Olanga and that was that.

Muralitharan's dream would have been a reality had Russel Arnold at silly mid-off clung on to a bat-pad catch off Travis Friend first ball in the morning.

But we are sure records would have been far from Muralitharan's thoughts. When playing the game if records come his way, he certainly would be happy to go down in the record books.

Otherwise he will continue to play the game for the game's sake because for him the game's the thing.

This is the second time that the spin wizard has captured 9 wickets in an innings. He did it previously at the London Oval against England in a Test. He had figures of 9 for 65.

Muralitharan who started off as a genuine off-spinner is now a master of spin and variation. While he is able to turn his off break square, the most difficult delivery to negotiate is the one that he sends straight with an off break action.

Muralitharan's continued success brings to mind an anecdote. When Muralitharan was spinning out batsmen with monotonous regularity and bowling Sri Lanka to victory after victory, there was a phone-in radio programme where the announcer asked listeners as to how the then prevailing North-East conflict could be solved.

A listener replied that all the northern extremists should be bowled out. But Muralitharan should be exempted. If not Sri Lanka would not be able to win a Test match.

The listener said that in jest and I reproduced this conversation in my 'Comment' column of that time.

A few days later after that article appeared, my chairman wanted to know why I wrote that article and accused me of stirring communalism. My reply was that communalism was not my style and that it should be taken in the spirit in which it was said and reported. No amount of explaining could convince him.

A few weeks later Muralitharan underlined what the listener said and I wrote again. He captured a record haul of 16 wickets - 7 in the first and 9 in the second and helped Sri Lanka beat England for the first time in England. It was a fantastic effort.

Since then Muralitharan has continued his good work and his bowling has helped Sri Lanka register win after win and enhance our status in international cricket.

The oft asked question now is: Can Sri Lanka win a Test match without Muralitharan?

Indications are that Muralitharan will end up as the best spin, or bowler for that matter that the world of cricket has seen. He is well on the way to breaking the all time record haul held by West Indian medium pacer Courtney Walsh. We must treat him like a national treasure and see to it that he is given all the encouragement he needs to continue to bring credit to the country. 

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