Murali will take it season by season
S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports correspondent
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Muttiah Muralitharan holding the ball aloft after breaking the
world record tally of 708 wickets dismissing the unseen England
cricketer Paul Collingwood during the third day of the first
Test match at Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy. Muttiah Muralitharan
broke Shane Warne’s world record tally of 708 wickets as Sri
Lanka sent England crashing in the first cricket Test.
Muralitharan, who went into the match needing five wickets to
become Test cricket’s most successful bowler.
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"I will play next season and if could stand to the demands of Test
cricket both physically and as a bowler, I will continue to play for get
another season," said the world's record holder for the most number of
Test wickets off spinner Muttiah Muralitheran.
He made these observations when he answered questions from the media
at a press briefing held at the Asgiriya Stadium at the conclusion of
third days play of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and
England which is currently being played here.
Muralitheran in the pre lunch session of play became highest wicket
taker in the 130 year old history of Test cricket when he clean bowled
England's Paul Collingwood. He now has 710 Test wickets.
Muralitheran said that the best Captain he played under was Arjuna
Ranatunga who stood by him in times of crisis and when his career was
under threat on that Boxing Day Test Match against Australia in
Australia. He protected me a lot.
Muralitheran said he has not made any decision about his future, and
he is 35 years old now. We play only 7 or 8 test matches for a year and
it is left to be seen how far he could go. We must enjoy playing the
game.
Muralitheran said when he first started playing test cricket, he
thought he would end up with 50 or 100 test wickets and he never thought
that he will end up with such a huge haul of wickets.
Once before he broke the world record in Zimbabwe but Australia's
Shane Warne was around and he soon overtook him. It was a neck to neck
race between them. But Shane Warne is no longer test cricket and he was
able to overtake him once again and grab the record.
India's Anil Kumble who has more cricketing years left in him has a
chance of breaking his record. Otherwise his record haul of test wickets
will be there for many years.
Muralitheran said he has played against a lot of good cricketers and
he rates West Indian Brian Lara as one of the best cricketers. Likewise
Graham Thorpe and Andy Flower too are good cricketers. In test cricket
every wicket is important. You will have to work hard to get your
wickets.
Muralitheran said yesterday was a very special day as he broke the
world record its front of his home crowd, his parents, his brothers,
friends and relations. Asgiriya Stadium is also a familiar terrain for
him as he had played here from the age of 15 and also captured 100
wickets for his school St. Anthony's College against Trinity College in
the Big Match.
He said a lead of 350 runs on this wicket could be good as the wicket
is playing slower and slower and on the last day it may get dusty.
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