Applaud Murali if he breaks world record

Ricky Ponting wants Australian crowds to show Muttiah Muralitharan due respect if he breaks Shane Warne's Test wicket record in November. Muralitharan needs nine more victims to pass Warne's mark of 708, which could happen during Sri Lanka's two Tests in Brisbane and Hobart.

"He's had his fair share of ups and downs in Australia in recent years, but being the champion bowler that he has been, if he happens to break the world record in Australia I hope he is shown the respect he deserves," Ponting said at the team camp in Coolum.

Ponting said his players were determined to prevent Muralitharan from overtaking Warne's record on Australian soil, which would also help them towards victory. "In the last series in Sri Lanka he took a lot of wickets, but he got a lot of our tail-enders out. He's actually come out in public and said we play him better than any other team in the world, and I think the stats probably back that up."

Ponting also contributed to the debate comparing Muralitharan with Warne. "When you add everything up, Murali's certainly been a great bowler," he said, "but Warney should be remembered as the greatest bowler of all time."

Warne's expected replacement in the Australian team, Stuart MacGill, said Muralitharan should not expect any favours from local crowds. "One thing that sportsmen need to get over is that the spectators owe them anything," MacGill said. "Sometimes we can be a little bit fragile. It [crowd taunting] is not personal. We are never going to see him again - it doesn't really matter."