Murali Rides into the sunset with 800

On Thursday, 23rd of July, 2010, Muttiah Muralitharan (or is that Muralidaran?) threw down his last delivery in Test cricket.  It took his 800th wicket.   And thus ended the most successful, most controversial and from some perspectives, the most celebrated bowling career in Test cricket.

On paper, Murali’s achievements bring tears to any statistician’s eyes.  Find any individual bowling record list and Murali will be at or near the top.  The most wickets taken (could 800 every be topped?) in Tests.  I’m glad he got to 800 wickets – 799 would have given Murali a Bradmanesque mystique that is not warranted.  The most five wicket hauls (67 – more than double 2nd place), the most ten wicket hauls (22 – more than double 2nd place, Shane Warne (always Warnie)).  Most illegal deliveries.  Most wickets taken with illegal deliveries.  The list goes on.   And don’t start on his one day record.  That will take even longer.

But to Sri Lankan cricket, Murali was much, much more than just statistics.  Murali was its heart and soul for many years.  They could not win without Murali.  In the whole of Sri Lankan Test history, they have had just one other bowler (Vaas).  The ICC recognised this and changed the rules for Murali.  There is no other way to say this:  Murali was and is a chucker and the rules were changed to keep him in the game.  For me, this must taint all of his achievements.

I won’t take away from Murali’s heart or abilty.  He was a fierce competitor and a fine character.  I guess debate will always rage over whether he chucked or not and about his permanently bent elbow.  But the fact remains that it more than 100 years for an off spinner to bowl a Doosra (the “googly” of the off break bowler) and the only way it can be done is by bending the elbow.

Murali’s final numbers:

800 test wickets at 22.72

1267 test runs at 11.67

Murali demonstrates 15 degrees for the updated Cricket Law Book

Unexpected Honours

Australia has conquered Pakistan at Lord’s and the only real surprises came from the Australian final bowling analysis.  Australian batsmen, Watson and North may have failed with the bat but they both took their best hauls in Tests. Watson (5-40) and North (6-55) now unexpectedly find themselves on the honour board at Lord’s.

Apparently there is a new board at Lord’s.  Traditionally there have been home team and visitors honour boards for centuries and five wicket hauls.  Now there is one for neutral teams.  It seems a lengthy measure for an occurrence that would appear to be rare, even given Pakistan’s current homeless status.

In the most recent neutral Test at Lord’s, Australia played South Africa in 1912 and the Australians, Kelleway and Bardsley both made centuries.  I wonder if their names will be retro-fitted to the new board.

In more recent news, Sri Lanka and India have just started the 1st Test, being played at Galle.  Sri Lanka are batting and it looks like this will be a high scoring affair.  For those of you who are not aware, this is Muralitharan’s final Test series.  He is closing in on 800 Test wickets (792) and his team mates are currently laying a good platform for him (2/240) and the other Sri Lankan bowlers.