Overcame all difficulties through hard work - Murali

Chris DHAMBARAGE reporting from Galle

Sri Lanka’s legendary off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan believes that it was another gift from God that helped him to end his illustrious Test career on a high note at the end of the opening test match against India at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

“I was so happy because whatever has happened God gave me everything. Not only the victory but the eight wickets to reach the 800 mark and everything he gave. So I think this is my greatest moment in my cricketing life and to retire in this manner”.

The veteran off spinner stated that he was able to overcome all difficulties through hard work and with the use of the technology after he was no balled for chucking twice in Australia.

“Life is all about forgiving and forgetting and I don’t think they have done a wrong thing. In their mind they thought that I was doing wrong. But the ICC had done a fare trial while using the technology.

The umpires make their judgments through naked eye, so nothing against them. I have no grudge against them and happy to have made it through the tough times. I always thought if something goes wrong I can bowl leg spin and continue playing cricket.” So many people have praised me. But at the end of the day it is the game that matter. People come and go and I am one of them. I have played for 18 years and another person will come and replace me. And he will also try and do the same things”.

Muralitharan said that he was really determined to put up a good performance and finish off things on a high note. “Frankly speaking thanks I have done it. That’s enough. That’s the only thing I was thinking because I have done this over and over. I have trained so hard and even last week I trained hard to play this match very seriously.

Muralitharan also commended the organizers for a splendid job and for giving him a fitting farewell from Test cricket. “Especially Warnaweera gave me a good farewell because it is unbelievable the way the ground was decorated.

But still the motivation was there to win. I am not a big emotional person. But I get upset sometimes then I get over it and try to do things. I am very happy and I think Kumar will take this team to greater heights and win the series.

Bowlers will come although they can’t get eight or nine wickets like I have done. Cricket has changed over the years. Batsmen are different and everything is different. Collectively we have five bowlers. Angelo is a great asset to us”.

Muralitharan noted that his prime goal was to win the match and the 800 wickets was only a second thought. “800 wickets was only a number for me. But we wanted to get the wickets quickly as possible. We never know sometimes in Galle it rains. Winning the match was the most important thing. Even if I didn’t get the 800 wickets I won’t be sad because I had a great match. The wicket was getting very slow. It was hard work for the spinners. We had something yesterday with a little bit of bounce. But Lasith Malinga bowled magnificently and made the difference.

Muralitharan also thanked the Head of the State, his family and all those who supported him throughout his career. “I’d like to thank President Mahinda Rajapaksa for coming to support me. Thanks to my wife and family for their support. To my teammates, past and present, throughout the 19 years for supporting me. To the Cricket Board and officials, and everyone else.”

“I started playing when I was 8 years old and I still listen to my coach Sunil Fernando from school days. Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva and all those guys helped me through the tough times in 1995.

“I’m available for the World Cup if the selectors need me. I want to play some more Twenty20 cricket. I made a lot of friends through cricket and sometimes my teammates said I talk too much with the opposition players!”