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'Only Harbhajan can emulate me' - Murali

Cricinfo staff

July 7, 2010

Comments: 154 | Text size: A | A
Muttiah Muralitharan went wicketless on the second day, India v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Kanpur, 2nd day, November 25, 2009
Slow bowlers will struggle to survive in the long run, says Muttiah Muralitharan © AFP
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Muttiah Muralitharan has singled out Harbhajan Singh as the only bowler capable of emulating his record feat in Tests. Murali, the leading wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs, who will retire from the longest format later this month, also said the decline of Tests and 50-over cricket meant slow bowlers would struggle for survival.

"I think only Harbhajan can do this," Murali, who currently has 792 wickets, told PTI. I don't know how old is he and how long he will continue. But he is the only one who can achieve this feat in Test cricket." Harbhajan, 30, has bagged 355 wickets in 83 Tests to date.

Murali said it would get increasingly difficult for spinners to set the kind of records he has. "In the current scenario Test cricket is dying. One-day cricket does not have bright future. Only Twenty20 is going to survive. So it will be difficult for any slow bowler to survive so long," he said.

Murali's success was a significant factor in the turn in Sri Lanka's fortunes as a Test-playing nation, but they were unable to win a Test in India, South Africa or Australia during his 18-year career. The absence of a win in either of these countries during his career, Murali said, remained his biggest regret. "I have achieved everything that an international cricketer can dream about. I have only one regret that I could not win in India, South Africa and Australia. But one cannot get everything in life."

Murali is just eight wickets away from reaching 800 wickets, and said reaching that landmark would mark a satisfactory end to his Test career. "I don't run after records. I have the world record in my name. Although if I could get eight more wickets, it will be a good way to end. I am sure I will be able to do that in one match. If not, no worries," he said.

When asked who was the toughest batsman he bowled to, Murali said: "If we talk about the consistency, then no other batsman can match Sachin [Tendulkar] and [Brian] Lara. They are the best against whom I have bowled. I had to put in extra effort against them. I am happy that I will be able to bowl Sachin in my last Test."

Murali said he is yet to decide whether to participate in the 2011 World Cup, but was available for the IPL. "I have not given it a thought yet [about the 2011 World Cup]. I cannot say that it is off my radar but I will think about this. After that I will be able to say something about participating in the tournament," he said. "I want to continue playing in the IPL till the franchise (Chennai Super Kings) needs me."

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Comments: 154 
Posted by Bigbanger666 on (July 10 2010, 10:25 AM GMT)

No doubt Murali is a decent guy. Unfortunately he is a magnificent chucka..... LOL.

Posted by   on (July 10 2010, 06:46 AM GMT)

Harbajan can't even dream of getting close to murali .I am quite dissapointed to hear such a comment from murali. If it is not another SRILANKAN that rechord will remain the same.Sachithra,Suraj,Prasanna,........and lot more are there to emulate Murali

Posted by Narayanan_Iyer on (July 09 2010, 20:12 PM GMT)

Murali is the Best Spinner that I have ever seen in the last 35 years that I have watched cricket. A key talent, a fighter, a multi-faceted person and a humble human being that he is - he will be sorely missed... Test Cricket will no longer be the same after the retirement of Lara, Gilly, Hayden, Bret Lee, Ganguly, Kumble, Bond & Murali... I am glad that I was around when these guys played against each other.

Posted by kanas on (July 09 2010, 17:34 PM GMT)

one of the greatest of the game has left us...we salute u man....just a thought this period 2-3 years could easily mean the end of some of the real time greatest of the game...namely ponting sachin dravid jayasurya kallis akthar may retire any time..alredy kumble murli gilly have called it a day.likes of bond and lee have vanished.. Currently the real potents of the game left r kp yuvi akmal mendis vettori afridi clarke morgan steyn...hope they live up and play to their calibre...Its high time to throw their attitudes away and play fr the game....Hope the game shadows every other sport as soccer does today

Posted by siva4444 on (July 09 2010, 15:33 PM GMT)

murali a sucessful cricketer has to be priced. there is nothing to comment on this bowling action . And of course bajji has the capability to break his record if his fitness permits for another10 years

Posted by Sohellcc on (July 09 2010, 09:48 AM GMT)

well. My bowl bend 18 degree. Pls some1 try to manage its validity from ICC. But i know if ne indian guy did it b4 me then it could be possible. Like vajji b4 murli. I think genuine fingure spinner is Warne, Saqline, Shakib.

Posted by spinkingKK on (July 09 2010, 09:15 AM GMT)

I don't find Murali's action to be correct. However, I am not an expert. If the experts like Sunil Gavaskar and university analysis clears him, there should be no more questions asked. Therefore, I regard Murali as a legend. His stats against India may not be all that good. But, as an Indian supporter, I always fear Murali when India plays against Srilanka. I think he has destroyed India in some ODI's, from what I can remember. Warne was a great bowler. But, when he plays against India, it is party time for all the Indian supporters. By the way, I have read some comments against Tendulkar by KiwiRocker. I am not big Tendulkar fan either. However, the period he was referring to was in 90's and it was the time of Tendulkar the destroyer. The big W's should thank the Indian govt. for not been fed against Tendulkar. Those Waqar/Wasim name would have taken a big dent if they were dished out to Tendulkar in 90's. Tendulkar made his mark by hammering the Pakisthanis in 1989-90.

Posted by   on (July 09 2010, 08:01 AM GMT)

If chucking was all he did to get wickets, maybe he would have got 300 wickets...If his action was all he had , batsmen would have found him out easily(Paul Adams, Mendis). Wake up, his contributions and genius are way too phenomenal to just label him a chucker... And Harbhajan would be lucky to get to 400....

Posted by KiwiRocker- on (July 09 2010, 05:46 AM GMT)

Capitalist cricketer: I was inclined to comment on your choice of name but lets focus on the article. May I please ask which/how Indian batsmen ended Saqlain Mushtaq's career? Saqlain Mushtaq was/IS MOST successful spinner on Indian pitches. Please refer to stats. He had/has a superb strike rate. Stop making comments before doing your research. I bet you are living in Multan test where on a flat like pancake pitch Sehwag scored few runs against a half fit Saqlain Mushtaq. Stop disgracing a fine spinner. Even Murali confirmed Saqlain chanced off spinner's game by inventing teesa. On a seperate note, Tendulkar for sure is over rated. What has he won for India? You need to play best to be considered as best and he saved himself against Wasim/Waqar in 90's thanks to Indian Govt...India's best ever batsman is Sunil Gavaskar and Rhaul Dravid.......!MATE!

Posted by   on (July 09 2010, 04:48 AM GMT)

if we compare the current stat of Harbhajan Singh Muttiah Muralitharan ,we can't think Harbhajan can come near to murali's record. Muttiah Muralitharan Mat Inns Wkts Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10 Tests 132 228 792 22.71 2.47 55.1 45 66 22 ODIs 337 329 515 23.07 3.92 35.2 14 10 0 Harbhajan Singh Mat Inns Wkts Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10 Tests 83 152 355 30.94 2.81 65.9 12 24 5 ODIs 212 203 242 32.84 4.30 45.7 2 3 0 Look the difference of muralis avarage and harabajans average,these days harbajans dosen't take many wickets at all,I think no one will break or come close to muralies record..no one!!!!

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