Hand With Magic

 

Muttiah Muralitharan is the first wrist-spinning off-spinner in the history of the game. Muralidharan one of the pioneers of world cricket.This Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in both Test cricket and in One Day Internationals (ODIs).Legend created history after taking his 800th test wicket in his 133rd appearance at Gall against India. Averaging over six wickets per Test, Muralitharan was one of the most successful bowlers in the game.Muralitharan held the number one spot in the International Cricket Council’s player rankings for Test bowlers for a record period of 1,711 days spanning 214 Test matches. 

Test debut : 28 August 1992 v Australia ODI debut : 12 August 1993 v India


He bowls marathon spells, yet he is usually on the attack.His unique bowling action begins with an open-chested short run-up, and culminates with an extremely wristy release which had him mistaken for a leg-spinner early in his career by Allan Border.Aside from his off-break, his main deliveries are a fast topspinner which goes straight on, and the doosra, a surprise delivery which turns from leg to off (the opposite direction of his stock delivery) with no easily discernible change of action.Since his debut in 1992, Muralitharan has taken 800 Test wickets and over 500 One Day International wickets, becoming the first player to take 1,000 wickets combined in the two main forms of international cricket. In July 2007, Muralitharan achieved a career peak Test Bowling Rating of 920, based on the LG ICC Player Rankings. This is the highest ever rating achieved by a spin bowler in Test cricket

Muttiah Muralidharan was born 17 April 1972 in Kandy, Sri Lanka.often referred to as Murali, is a Sri Lankan cricketer who was rated the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2002. Murali started his career way back in 1992 and is still contributing towards SriLankan cricket. He has single handedly managed the bowling section of the team. This cricketer has unbelievable stats under his belt which includes 133 test caps, 800 test wickets, best bowling figure of 9/51(test), bowling average of 22.72(test), 337 ODI caps, 515 ODI wickets, best bowling figure of 7/30(ODI), economy rate of 3.92(ODI).

His career has been through many ups and down including controversies and accusations of his bowling actions.During the second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day 1995, Australian umpire Darrell Hair called Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing in front of a crowd of 55,239. The off-spinner was no-balled seven times in three overs by Hair, who believed the then 23 year old was bending his arm and straightening it in the process of delivery; an illegal action in cricket. Many critics, umpires and cricketing experts have accused Murali for 'chucking', many a times. He has also been reviewed and examined by ICC physicians against these charges. After biomechanical analysis under simulated playing conditions, Muralitharan's action was cleared by the International Cricket Council, first in 1996 and again in 1999.

• Muttiah Muralitharan is the first and only Tamil of Indian origin to represent Sri Lanka in international cricket.[citation needed] He holds Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) and he does not need a visa for travelling to India.
• He represented Sri Lanka in 118 Tests of the 175 that they have played.
• Muralitharan was on the winning side on 54 of the 133 test matches he played. In those games he captured a total of 438 wickets.
• Muralitharan has played in four Cricket World Cup tournaments, in 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007.
• In August 1993 at Moratuwa, Muralitharan captured 5 for 104 in South Africa's first innings, his first five-wicket haul in Tests.
• The most Test wickets 800 wickets.
• The most One-Day International wickets 515 wickets.
• The most 5-wicket hauls in an innings at Test level (67).
• The most 10-wicket hauls in a match at Test level (22).
• Most Man of the Series awards in Test cricket (11).
• The only bowler to take 75 or more wickets in a calendar year on three occasions, achieving it in 2000, 2001 and 2006.
• He is the only player to take 10 wickets/match against every Test playing nation.
• Muralitharan and Jim Laker (England), are the only bowlers to have taken 9 wickets in a Test innings twice.
• Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World in 2006.
• In six Tests, he took 60 wickets,in 2006.
• Muralitharan took 90 wickets in 11 Tests in the calendar year.
• 10 wickets or more in a Test for the 20th time.
• In July 2007 Muralitharan achieved Test Bowling Rating of 920 This is the highest ever rating achieved by a spin bowler in Test cricket.
• In 9 April 2002 Muralitharan achieved a career peak ODI Bowling Rating of 913,This is the highest ever rating achieved by a spin bowler in One Day Internationals.
• On 27 October 2000 in Sharjah, Muralitharan captured 7 for 30 against India, which were then the best bowling figures in One Day Internationals.

On 7 July 2010, Muttiah Muralitharan formally announced his retirement from Test cricket at a media briefing in Colombo. Muralitharan announced his retirement from Test cricket after the first Test against India at Galle which commenced on 18 July 2010.

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