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   by Richard Dwight

Neither in the history of Ceylon cricket, where the game in its nascent stage meandered through those formative years, nor in this progressive Sri Lankan age playing many a Test match and one dayers have we unearthed a rare gem of a spinner in the ilk of Muttiah Muralitheran, who verily stands out as extraordinary.

Apart from being a phenomenal spinner of the ball, whose feats at times have been heroic, he further enhanced his reputation by his characteristic manner in which he encountered, protracted allegations of chucking brought against him.

Never in the annals of cricket in this country has there been a bowler on this score, having to undergo such humiliation, embarrassment and inconvenience, as Murali did.

Subjecting himself as well, to rigorous scrutiny and examination to eventually triumph over adversity with much composure, equanimity and resilience of a high order. Indeed an inspiration, encouragement and an object lesson to aspiring young cricketers experiencing a similar crisis.

Murali, the thirty - year - old bachelor born on April 17, 1972, hails from the hilly climes of Kandy. Being a member of a well established family, he was always found to be comfortably placed in life. He was spoken of as a shy, innocent, reticent lad, as he went through his primary and secondary education at St. Anthony's College, Katugastota.

He did now and then flirt with rugby, but his first love was cricket.

And fortuitously for him, his school and country, he switched from pace to spin, which has through the years proved tremendously rewarding.

With his arc - like short run up, mesmerising batsmen to leave them baffled, he with comparative ease took 4 to 5 wickets on a regular basis at the schools' level and, also had the distinction of taking 100 wickets in a season of school cricket.

Murali made the right kind of impression whilst playing for his club, Tamil Union, to be selected to play for Sri Lanka and from that time on, there was no turning back for him.

His efforts as a bowler has been so sustained to be among the wickets and, his land mark achievement was when he got past the '400 Wicket taking mark' in lesser number of matches and at a much younger age, does speak volumes for his ability as a spinner.

Not forgetting too, his five and ten wicket hauls and the fact that he has taken well nigh 300 wickets in the 'one dayers' and almost 440 wickets in test matches.

Mindful as well of his devastating form displayed for the Lancashire county - where in the year 1998 he claimed 34 wickets, following it up with 55 wickets in the last five matches in 1999.

The British press was quick enough to recognise the sheer brilliance of this world class spinner and many appreciative encomiums came his way.

The English Guardian described him as the 'wonder of the age' while another headlined "Murali the master goes spinning into history."

Murali undoubtedly is an embellishment to the game, adorning it to make cricket come alive, giving much excitement and thrill to many.

He isn't through yet, for he has many overs to bowl and wickets to take ere he ceases to bowl.

And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, that this right arm of Murali could mean so much to cricket, his team and country.   [Back]

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