Kandy-man Murali scales the summit

Dec 03, 2007 indeed would be a very very special day for Muthiah Muralitharan. With the claiming of wicket number 709 saw him scale to a new summit, a height that every bowler across the globe wihes to reach in his greatest imaginings. Every bowler who comes in the cricket arena or who is a part of this game will look to that tally as bench mark to prove their grit and iron. Incidentally, for Murali, this will be a day to enjoy a day which he would like to freeze and keep for eternity.

Himanshu Shekhar & Vineet Sharma

December 03, 2007 indeed would be a very very special day for Muthiah Muralitharan. The claiming of wicket number 709 saw him scale a new summit, a height that every bowler across the globe wishes to reach in his greatest imaginings. Every bowler who comes in the cricket arena or who is a part of this game will look to that tally as a bench mark to prove their grit and iron. For Murali, this will be time to enjoy a day which he would like to freeze and keep for eternity.Highway to success


Muralitharan bowled England`s Paul Collingwood for 45 runs shortly before lunch on the third day of the first Test, his 709th wicket, sparking wild celebrations in Kandy.

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Greeted with fireworks from Lankan supporters, the wicket completed Muralitharan`s 61st five-wicket haul in Tests and he added another one to the tally in his next over, increasing it to 710 prized scalps.

A game which since inception faces allegations of being batsmen friendly, 710 wickets is an achievement only few could have dreamt. From ‘Doosra’, to a ball which turned the other way, Murali had it all. Over the years Murali’s wrist has kept bamboozling even the top batsmen of world cricket.

Well, it would not be hyperbole to say that the debate can never reach a conclusion. But anyone who played Murali, definitely rated as the best. “His bowling might not be classical off spin which MCC rule book can pick but his effectiveness will compel the top body to add a completely new chapter,” says Nikhil Chopra.

His spectacular achievement comes in 116 Tests. Probably no other bowler can claim to have faced the wrath of over critical media and ICC than Murali has. Those who know him believe allegations of chucking gave him that extra reason to go that extra mile.

Controversial action

Murali has sent over 38000 odd balls in these matches, yet the controversy over his action continues, despite him being cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after extensive biomechanical tests.

US President Roosevelt once famously said, “ It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

For Murali every ball he bowled was with that great enthusiasm that Roosevelt talked about.

Fans world over might debate who probably is the best spin bowler of all times. There are names which probably many will argue were better in art of spin bowling. Names of wizards of spin like Shane Warne, Subhash Gupte, BS Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasana or probably Bishan Singh Bedi?

The debate will probably never settle. For many it will be Warne, for many it can be Murali or Kumble as there is no standard scale to measure. However one thing is for sure- being a spin bowler, Murali is bound to play for 2 to 3 more years. By the end of his career Murali will be at a height which will be the envy of cricketers for generations to come. For batsmen, Murali’s challenge is still the greatest one.

The enigma behind the most prolific willow hunter continues to dazzle cricketing aficionados the world over. He has carved a niche for himself in the minds and memories of any avid follower of the game with his smile and lethal delivery of results with the ball. He surely has given nightmares to the best of willow wielders in the international arena but has brought smiles to the faces of many more fans with his charisma on and off the field. All in all, it is needless to say that any cricket lover’s heart will sway to the tunes of Murali when he is on song, doing what he does best, taking wickets by the dozen.