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| Thursday, 8 May 2003 |
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Muralitharan ponders his future by Kuldip Lal, KANDY, Sri Lanka, Tuesday -(Afp) Sri Lanka's injury-prone cricket star Muttiah Muralitharan wants to slow down after being described by the team's former physiotherapist as a "bio-mechanical mess." The off-spinner, one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the modern game and rated highly by cricket's bible Wisden, has been plagued by injuries over the last few years. At 30, when cricketers are considered to be at the peak of their game and fitness, Muralitharan has already suffered a dislocated shoulder, a hernia operation, torn quadriceps and a niggling groin. Alex Kontouri, the Sri Lankan team's physiotherapist for eight years who quit last week for family reasons, said in a recent interview that Muralitharan was a "bio-mechanical mess" who needed to be nursed carefully.And the star bowler, hoping to play international cricket for at least four more years, has heeded the advice quickly. Muralitharan hopes to pick and choose his one-day matches in order to stay fit for the next World Cup to be played in the Caribbean in 2007. "I want to play only major tournaments," Muralitharan said during the ongoing Test series against New Zealand. "Too much of one-day cricket does take its toll. I hope to go on for another four years....but one never knows what the future holds. Plans often change." Gone also is the bravado of aiming to become the first bowler to claim 600 Test wickets, more than current record holder West Indian Courtney Walsh's tally of 519. Instead, Muralitharan, who has an amazing 445 wickets from just 80 Tests, wants to take it "match by match."His strike rate of 5.5 wickets a game suggests that if Sri Lanka play 10 Tests over each of the next four years, Muralitharan could take at least 220 wickets more to lift his overall tally to a staggering 665.But is it asking too much from a man who is already showing signs of wear and tear after leading the Sri Lankan attack single-handedly since 1992? His wicket-taking prowess has taken a beating in the current series against the Kiwis, not the best players of spin bowling in the world. In the first Test on a featherbed of a wicket in Colombo, Muralitharan went wicketless for 54 overs in the first innings before he picked up two late wickets. He grabbed three in the second knock and another three in New Zealand's lone innings so far in the rain-hit second and final Test here.Is Muralitharan's firepower waning? New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who returned unbeaten with a career-best 274 and 69 in the first Test, dismisses the suggestion. "Sri Lanka have got the biggest strikepower in the world in Murali," Fleming said of the spin wizard. "He can turn a match at any point. Without him, Sri Lanka are not a very successful side." Muralitharan, whose unusual bowling action was questioned by Australian umpires and continues to generate debate around the world, has ominously warned batsmen his bag of tricks is not full yet. "I am working on the flipper," he said. "It's a hard ball to master and have not bowled it in a match yet. I am also working on other variations."Muralitharan also needs to work on staying fit.
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