Murali looking to the future again

MUTTIAH Muralitharan reckons he is only 70-80% fit, but the great Sri Lankan spin bowler does not seem to have been too badly affected by the longest injury lay-off of his career.

As he took eight wickets for Lancashire in their county championships win over Worcestershire at New Road, Murali told Sportsworld his shoulder is on the mend after two recent operations.

But he was very cagey when asked whether he will ultimately overtake Shane Warne as the world's leading wicket taker.

Warne has 576 victims, Murali 532 - although the Sri Lankan is two and a half years younger.

He said: "I'm not sure about it because he's one of the greatest bowlers in the world. It depends on how we play in future because nothing is guaranteed in life," he said.

That is something Murali knows only too well. More than 30,000 of his countrymen were killed in December's tsunami, and in the days following the tragedy, Murali travelled with the relief convoys to help ensure food reached those most in need.

He also encouraged both Warne and Ian Botham to visit Galle, knowing it would mean such a lot to the city's inhabitants.

"Cricket puts a smile on people's faces," he told us. "In Sri Lanka, it's like a religion because everybody watches it on TV. If stars like Shane come in and try to help, it's a big thing for us."

(BBC)