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From the press box by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

In the eyes of the cricketing world and to the public that follows the sport with fervour back home, Muttiah Muralitharan is a cricketing icon. No one denies him that recognition.

Murali has earned it by overcoming great odds like being called twice for throwing at international matches, to emerge as the leading contender for the world crown as Test cricket's highest wicket-taker. He has gradually worked himself up the ladder of fame to become the fifth highest wicket-taker in Test history today behind Courtney Walsh, Kapil Dev, Sir Richard Hadlee and Shane Warne.

But along with such adulation and success has come a streak of inexcusable behaviour in recent series and more so, on the current tour of England.

Ever since he arrived in England with his injured left shoulder, there has been constant refusal to talk to the media and the manager's attempt to keep him wrapped up in cotton wool has not helped either.

What was wrong with journalists asking Murali questions about his injury? What was so controversial about it that the manager kept on constantly cutting off any questions related to the injury?

Being a world-class player and the man who transfixed England at the Oval four years ago with 16 wickets, the media were keen to speak to him. Eventually, this refusal to speak to Murali resulted in various speculations appearing in the media like that he was forced to play when he was not fully fit etc etc., which the management was left to defend.

Ever since Murali arrived in England, it had been an unsettling period for the Sri Lanka team. It was ironic that Murali's arrival should coincide with fast bowler Ruchira Perera being reported to the ICC for his bowling action.

In the only opportunity Murali had with the media (when he took five wickets in the Edgbaston Test), he spoke out controversially against his fellow bowlers blaming them for not giving 100 percent effort on the field and saying that it was always left to him to take the wickets. Although the team management tried to underplay Murali's outburst, it did not go down well with his team mates, who were naturally disappointed.

It has been a well-kept secret that Murali is one of the few players who rebelled for Mahela Jayawardene's removal as vice captain of the national team. Jayawardene was appointed deputy to Sanath Jayasuriya in 1999, but was soon replaced by Marvan Atapattu.

Murali has been a rather quiet person in the Sri Lanka team. But changes in his attitude were quite evident when he was approaching his 400 Test wickets during the home series against West Indies and Zimbabwe. He has now begun to show anger and emotion when a fielder drops a catch or misfields off his bowling. When the team management was told about these unusual changes, the answer we got was 'that Muralitharan played the game hard and he expected others also to be as good as him'.

There's no hidden truth that Sri Lanka depend a great deal on Muralitharan for its Test and one-day victories. The dream run of nine consecutive Test wins would never have been achieved if not for his contribution. Muralitharan knows it and is that why he is trying to hold the country to ransom and trying to get things done his own way?

It has been widely publicised that Murali has privately expressed his unwillingness to tour Australia, apparently because of the treatment meted out to him by the umpires and the cricketing public.

A sportsman of his stature should try to overcome such adversity and take a leaf from New Zealand fast bowler Sir Richard Hadlee. Hadlee, who was Australia's serial tormentor, said that he was never happy playing in Australia because he was abused by the spectators. But he still went there.

Is Murali becoming bigger than the game?.

Murali should realize that it is always the other way around. The game is always bigger than the individual and no one is indispensable. He should change his newfound attitude before he destroys himself and his career. He should realize that there is life after cricket.

An old school in a modern world

Chandra Schaffter is one of the most genial and helpful persons one could ever come across. It so happened that the Cricket Board interim committee suddenly thought it was right to bring him back as manager of the Sri Lanka team because they felt that discipline within the team ranks was eroding.

At 72, Schaffter we all know belongs to an old generation of instilling discipline, which in today's context no longer applies or exists. So when he tried to protect grown up men (who are capable of taking decisions of their own), and treating them like a bunch of schoolboys, the problems began to surface.

He earned the wrath of the English journalists when he put his foot down on the British media and prevented them from speaking to any of his players, barring the captain and coach. It was the last straw. They complained to the ICC who took the matter up with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. The ICC asked the Sri Lanka Cricket Board to relax the total ban imposed by Schaffter on the British media.

Schaffter is not to be blamed for creating such situations. It is his style of doing things. The blame lies on those who appointed him to that post. The decision by the Cricket Board's interim committee to discontinue his services is a timely one because of the problems that have surfaced during his period as manager.

These were few of the distractions Jayasuriya's side could have easily done without on such an important tour. A side that was on the brink of a victory in the first Test ended up losing the series 2-0. The performance in the one-day series will now be eagerly watched and it would provide a yardstick as to how we might perform in the forthcoming one-day series - ICC Champions' Trophy, Tri-series in Australia and in the 12-nation World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe - as the nation tries to revive its glory days.

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