Symonds urges Australia to respect Muralitharan

Andrew Symonds has called on Australian fans to show Muttiah Muralitharan some respect and not taunt him if, as expected, he passes Shane Warne's Test wicket record while touring Australia later this year.

Muralitharan has been regularly abused by Australian crowds since he was twice called for throwing in 1995 and 1999. In the past, even John Howard, the Australian prime minister, has called him a chucker.

The taunts led to Muralitharan boycotting an Australian tour in 2004. But Symonds, who played with Muralitharan for Lancashire, said he would be embarrassed if crowds failed to acknowledge the achievement.

"I just hope the beer drinkers in the sun don't give him a hard time and late one afternoon if he breaks the record they start on him," Symonds told Australian Associated Press. "I hope that doesn't happen, I hope people can stand up and actually applaud him for what he is -- a legend."

Muralitharan needs another nine wickets to go past Warne's 708 wickets and at his current rate, should accomplish that in one of the two scheduled Tests. "Definitely it would be embarrassing for us as a team if they didn't (applaud him)."

"We respect him for his skills and for what he has done and I think it would be rude, straight out rude, if they didn't sort of respect him and give him the pat on the back he deserves."

Muralitharan was first called for throwing by Darrell Hair, seven times, on Boxing Day in 1995. Four years later, after being called again, Sri Lanka almost walked off the field midway through a match.