Murali must wait patiently for doosra greenlight

It was a shame that it all happened so far away from family, friends and his beloved supporters, against a team so weakened by racial politics, but that does not deflect from the glory of Murali's achievement. He's an astonishing performer and a truly great cricketer.

Most of Sri Lanka, from Hambantota in the south to Jaffna in the north, waited nervously during that third day in Harare, willing Murali on to the landmark, knowing full well that he could not be denied his triumph, but nevertheless sweaty-palmed in eager anticipation.

Murali's teammates, all strong and loyal friends, were anxious too, eager to be the one to pick up the historic catch. They hovered around the bat, twitching and squawking like delighted children, for seven overs without reward, Murali growing ever so slightly tense.

But Murali eventually broke through as Muleki Nkala prodded a bat-pad catch into the mitts of Mahela Jayawardene - who has recovered his catching mojo and put an appallingly butter-fingered Australia series behind him - and the celebrations started.

Murali reacted with a mixture of ecstasy and relief. For years his eclipse of Courtney Walsh's record has been talked about throughout the world. Murali has admitted that the constant chatter about records, and the enormous expectation that it placed upon his shoulders, was hard to bear.

But, finally, he reached the cherished landmark. A pressure valve was immediately released and that can only help him become a more relaxed character and better bowler (yes, perhaps its hard to believe, but Murali is still getting better). He steps out into the unknown and who knows where it will all end: 700, 800, 900 or even 1000?

It's mind-boggling to consider just how many he could end up with. He reached the landmark after just 89 matches, that's an incredible 43 fewer games than Walsh. Now just 32 years old, he expects to play for at three years and who is to stay that he won't continue after that.

Currently he averages approximately 6.7 wickets per Test match, although the wicket-taking pace has picked up since the perfecting of the doosra: during his last seven Tests he's bagged 62 victims at an average of 8.8 wickets a match. Bear in mind, too, that that includes three games against the Aussies, the world champions.

So, let's assume that he plays for three years and plays approximately 12 Tests per annum, taking seven wickets per game. He then finishes with a final tally of 773. Even if he was not tempted to carry on, which surely he would be being so close to 800, he would have set a record that will be close to unbreakable.

Some people - mostly Australian journalists, former players and umpires - would loathe the thought that Murali could not be surpassed. They would love nothing more than to see him hounded out of the game prematurely because of the ongoing chucking scandal over his doosra.

But I'm afraid we have some bad news for them. Murali's doosra will not only soon be declared legal, but it will be a cleaner bill of health than some of their own stars. In the short term, the ICC have said it must be shelved - because his arm straightens by 10 degrees rather than the permitted five - but before the yearend it should be given the greenlight.

Moreover, biomechanical research is set to send shockwaves through world cricket and prove that many international bowlers, some of whom have apparently clean actions, straighten their arms more than 10 degrees. Muralitharan has been pulled up because his weird action looks suspicious but others hide their straightening better.

This is perhaps unfair on Muralitharan, but he should not be too downcast. On the contrary, the developments in sports science provide him with a welcome opportunity to protect his reputation and the legacy he leaves. Had he been born ten years earlier then world opinion would have been forever spilt. The chucking cloud would have lingered on for eternity.

But, thankfully, advances have been made. The ICC recognised the need for a change in 2002 after preliminary research red-flagged the potential problems ahead for the chucking law. In September 2003 thresholds were agreed after research on various types of bowlers.

Since then further research has been completed and both Bruce Elliott and Marc Portus, the two leading biomechanics experts on this issue in Australia, are convinced that the thresholds must be increased, possibly even to 15 degrees.

The issue will be discussed in Dubai this week by the ICC's Cricket Committee, headed by Sunil Gavaskar, a pundit not noted for his fondness for Murali's action. But while they may make recommendations for the ICC's Executive Board meeting in June, no change to the law is expected until after the completion of previously planned research during the ICC Champions Trophy.

During this period, Murali must discard his doosra and rely on his offspinner and topspinner, which goes straight but unlike the doosra does not nip away from righthanders. This, as some commentators have suggested, may actually be a good thing for his bowling, forcing him to return to a more attacking offstump line.

Even if it does limit his productivity, Murali must be patient. The time for the doosra will come again and he must wait for the scientists to finish their research. After all, six months is a short period to wait for a decision that will free him from the chucking controversy for ever.