MUTTIAH Muralidaran became the world’s greatest Test wicket-taker last night and critics immediately demanded his name be scrapped from the record books.
The Sri Lankan spin wizard claimed his 709th wicket, and broke Shane Warne’s world record, when a planned off-spinner failed to turn and his skidding delivery smacked into Englishman Paul Collingwood’s stumps in the first Test in Kandy.
The moment sparked rapturous applause by 6000 fans at the Asgiriya Stadium in Muralidaran’s home town and another chipped-tooth grin by the man who has polarised the game like no other player.
As Muralidaran finished with 6-55, claiming an amazing 61st five-wicket haul in his 116th Test, debate raged over the authenticity of his rubber-wristed action and whether he deserved the title of being the game’s greatest bowler.
Former Cricket Australia chairman and Test umpire Col Egar, who famously no-balled Australian paceman Ian Meckiff for throwing, took no joy from seeing Muralidaran snatch the record.
“I couldn’t care less about him,” Egar said. “As far as I am concerned they should have a separate record for bowlers with illegal actions.
“Warne deserves the record and in my book he will always be the record holder. I’ve got a photo at home of Murali’s arm bending at 48 degrees.
“The tests they did on him were rubbish. The only tests that matter are those conducted under match conditions.
“The administrators of the game have got to take the blame for letting his action go.”
Shane Warne’s long-time mentor, Terry Jenner, said the International Cricket Council’s existing laws left a question mark hovering over Muralidaran’s action.
“It’s a bit late at 709 wickets to still be wondering about his action,” he said.
“One day they will be able to satisfy those who, with their naked eye, aren’t comfortable with it.”
First called for throwing on his maiden tour of Australia in 1995, Muralidaran’s controversial action has been repeatedly probed by the ICC through a series of exhaustive biomechanical tests.
Former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy said he had “no problem” with Muralidaran holding the record.
“Having had a really close look at his action this summer, I am happy enough going along with him being the world record holder ,” he said.
“I have seen a written report of one of his tests of a couple of years ago and that was very convincing.
“If we are going to appoint these experts and these experts will certainly stand by their word, then I think we have got to go along with them, otherwise we are not trusting the game.”
Muralidaran, who endured sleepless nights on his world-record hunt, insisted he was glad he had not smashed through the barrier in Warne’s backyard earlier this season.
The Sri Lankan claimed it was even sweeter writing his name into the record books in his hometown of Kandy.
“It is a bigger moment than if I take it in Australia, I think this is the right timing,” Muralidaran said.
“It’s my home town and my parents are here, my wife is here and all my school friends are here.”
Former wicket-taking record-holder Ian Botham said Muralidaran deserved his new title.
“For a man who has faced so much controversy since he first came on the scene, I think he has done exceptionally well to get where he has,” he said.
“You can argue and debate about him until you’re blue in the face, but at the end of the day he has been a wonderful Test player and an exceptional exponent of his art.
“Warne congratulated Muralidaran as soon as he had equalled his mark. “I wish him all the best for the future,” Warne said.
“I think he can go on and take 1000 wickets. I don’t think anybody else but Murali will take 1000 wickets.”
ON the field, veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya, who later announced the match would be his final Test, was out for 78 as the hosts reached 2-167 at stumps to lead by 74 with two days to play.
Jayasuriya, who hit 10 fours and a six, added 113 for the first wicket with fellow left-hander Michael Vandort, who scored 49 from 143 deliveries before being caught in the slips just before bad light stopped play.
Kumar Sangakkara finished unbeaten on 30, with skipper Mahela Jayawardene yet to get off the mark.
Tied with Warne overnight, Muralidaran was forced to wait until his second spell of the morning before moving off the 708-wicket mark, bowling Paul Collingwood (45) with a delivery from around the wicket that nipped straight on.
“I was surprised the off-spinner did not turn,” Collingwood said. “It’s obviously an amazing feat while it is not very nice being a victim. ”
Collingwood shared a 57-run stand with Ryan Sidebottom (31) that helped England build a 93-run lead after resuming on 6-186.
“To get that kind of total we were very happy. You can lose wickets in clusters and hopefully we can put them under pressure,” Collingwood said.
The landmark wicket was greeted with loud firecrackers all around Asgiriya International Stadium and wild celebrations from a full house that included hundreds of children from his old school, his family and closest friends.
“The England batsmen played well in the morning and it was getting a bit tougher for me as this pitch is getting slower and slower,” Muralidaran said.
“The delivery to Collingwood was supposed to be an off break but it went straight on so I guess was lucky.”
The 35-year-old added to his tally in the next over with the wicket of Matthew Hoggard (15), who was brilliantly stumped down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
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Posted by maqmanu 
Posted by maqmanu 
