Little By Little Test Cricket Will Lose, Says Muttiah Muralitharan

The batsmen do not have the defensive skills now, according to the legendary o­ff-spinner

- S. Dinakar

His Test numbers are staggering — 133 matches, 800 wickets at 22.72, 67 five-­wicket innings and 22 10­-wicket match hauls.

Nobody has more wickets in Tests, none threatens to come close. His eyes, so full of joy and hope — he grew up during a difficult period in Sri Lankan history but never stopped smiling — are a window to his resilience and compassion.

Greatness sits lightly on Muttiah Muralitharan. His humility is striking, his feet are grounded. This Sri Lankan Tamil is not the kind to look down condescendingly at bowlers with less success at the highest level.

Murali’s upbringing does not permit him that. As he said during his visit to The Hindu office here on Saturday, “I am lucky to be picked at the right time, and play international cricket for nearly 20 cricketers. Some very talented cricketers might not have got that opportunity.”