Chennai holds special memories for Murali
 

Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from India

CHENNAI, Wednesday, For Sri Lanka spin icon Muttiah Muralitharan the city of Chennai holds special memories and he hopes to make it a unique occasion for him when the first Test against India starts at the Chiddambaram Stadium here on Friday.

It was in Chennai in March this year that Muralitharan tied the nuptial knot on Madhi Malar, who also hails from the same city and who is the daughter of the founder of Malar hospitals here. It is also the first time that Muralitharan in his illustrious cricket career of 96 Tests is going to play a Test match in Chennai.

Sri Lanka last played a Test here in 1982 when Duleep Mendis, the present CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket and former captain made twin centuries.

"I've never played in Chennai. We have come to India after eight years to play a Test match. I am a Tamil and the Test is played in Tamil Nadu. Chennai is special for me. I am looking forward to playing well here," said the 33-year-old spinner who carries the major burden of his side's bowling on his shoulders.

If Sri Lanka are to achieve their maiden Test win in India, Muralitharan will have to play a major role. The second highest Test wicket-taker in the world said that he was hungry for wickets and for the success of his team. "I am hungry for wickets and I want my side to win. I always try hard, 90 percent of the time I have been successful and 10 percent I've failed. I always put in 100 percent effort. Every Test match is a challenge," said Muralitharan. "It all depends on how you bowl well on the day.

Sometimes you try hard and things will happen. I am going to try hard and make things happen," he said. Muralitharan said it was a big challenge playing against India. "They have some of the best batsmen who can play spin.

It's not only Sachin (Tendulkar) that you have to dismiss but there are also other great players like (Virender) Sehwag, Rahul (Dravid), (VVS) Lakshman and (Sourav) Ganguly. We have to play hard to get them out. It is a challenge for me to prove myself. It is going to be one on one," said Muralitharan.

Of the 568 Test wickets he has captured, Muralitharan has 51 wickets (avg. 32.94) against India in 12 Tests. His record in India is 15 wickets (avg. 48.73) from five Tests, something which he will need to improve on considering the success he's had against other Test playing nations barring Australia.

Muralitharan who is chasing Australian leg-spin ace Shane Warne's world record of 645 wickets from 132 Tests said there was no competition between them for the record. "I have to take wickets for my side to win. That's more important than competing with Warne for the record," he said.

Muralitharan stated that he preferred Test cricket to one-day cricket. "One-day cricket is not my kind of game.

Test cricket is what I look forward to play very much. From a player's point Test cricket is important but from a spectators point they prefer one-dayers," he said. Looking at the pitch that is being prepared for the Test match Muralitharan said that he hoped it would be a good Test wicket with a little bounce.