BBC SPORT | Cricket | International Teams | Sri Lanka | Muralitharan - the record-breaker International teams Muttiah Muralitharan is one of the most divisive figures in cricket history. Muralitharan receives the acclaim of his home-town crowd To his admirers, he is a sports phenomenon. To his detractors, he is a spin bowler whose action should have been outlawed by the game's rule-makers. Whichever view you take, there is no arguing with statistics. And by bowling England's Paul Collingwood in Kandy on Monday to claim his 709th victim, he became the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket for the second time. It is, by any standards, an astonishing feat - and it should not be forgotten that he also has 457 wickets in one-day and Twenty20 internationals to his credit as well. When England fast bowler Fred Trueman became the first player to take 300 Test wickets, he was asked whether he thought anyone would surpass his achievement. "If anyone beats it, they'll be bloody tired" was his typically robust response.

606: DEBATE I have found it a joy to watch him weaving his magic over the years DeltaAlpha Trueman's record stood for 11 years until his final total of 307 wickets was bettered by West Indies off-spinner Lance Gibbs. But with 35-year-old Muralitharan keen to push on towards 800, 900, perhaps even 1,000 victims, it is unlikely his record will be broken for many years to come - if ever. CONTROVERSY Muralitharan made a modest international debut in August 1992 when he took four wickets in a drawn Test against Australia in Colombo, but he had already shown them he had the potential to become something special. "The first time anyone in Australia saw Murali bowl, he delivered one over before lunch to Allan Border in a President's XI warm-up [game] - and we all looked stunned. MURALITHARAN'S WICKETS 67 v India 59 v Australia "We asked AB what he was bowling, and AB said he was a leg-spinner.

We eventually realised he was bowling a wrist spin version of off-spin," said ex-Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody. It was on tours to Australia, however, where his career became mired in controversy as he was called for throwing by umpires Darrell Hair and Ross Emerson. And in 2004, biomechanics expert Professor Bruce Elliott ruled that Muralitharan's doosra, a ball which turns from leg to off, was illegal as he straightened his arm by 10 degrees. The following year, the International Cricket Council relaxed its rules, making it legal for bowlers to straighten their arms up to 15 degrees. Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott described it as "a sad day for cricket" and former India spin bowler Bishen Bedi said the ICC had "created a monster" by legitimising his action. Muralitharan was born with a permanently bent arm but it is a double-jointed wrist, perhaps combined with the deformity, which is primarily responsible for the amount of turn he is able to obtain on even the most batsman-friendly surfaces.

But that is only part of the spin bowler's art - and Muralitharan is also a master of the subtleties of flight, disguise, change of pace, line and length. RIVALRY In years to come, Muralitharan's wicket-taking duel with Australia's great leg-spinner Shane Warne will go down as one of the game's great rivalries. Muralitharan first broke the record in May 2004 when he had Zimbabwe's Mluleki Nkala caught in Harare - his 520th Test victim. Kings of spin: Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan But a lengthy spell on the sidelines following shoulder surgery enabled Warne, who had been first to 500, to establish a lead which he held for the remainder of his career. Warne bowed out last winter with 708 wickets at a cost of 25.4 runs each. To the purists, he remains the superior performer - only 17 of his wickets came against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, whereas Muralitharan's tally has been swollen by 163 successes against Test cricket's two weakest sides.

Muralitharan, on the other hand, has a bowling average of 21.67. Such a debate, however, can never be resolved definitively one way or the other. "Muralitharan is what I would call a freakish genius, whereas Warne is more a sort of ace cricket thief," was analyst Simon Hughes's verdict. "He has got extra biomechanical assets that Shane Warne doesn't have. People talk about finger spin, but I definitely think he is a wrist spinner. "It comes out of the back of the hand - it's like a revolving door, that wrist, a ball bearing mechanism," Hughes added. Warne and Muralitharan certainly have one thing in common - their success has been due to a combination of innate skill and sheer hard work. And just as it was when Warne bowed out last winter, the game will be the poorer when Muralitharan walks away from it.

Bookmark with: Muttiah Muralitharan Muttiah Muralitharan 28 August 1992 : v Australia cricket team">Australia Last Test 22 December 2007: v England ODI debut 12 August 1993 : v India Last ODI 28 April 2007: v Australia ODI shirt no. Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club 1999 - 2007 As of 01 March 2008 Source: CricketArchive Muttiah Muralitharan (born 17 April 1972 in Kandy, Sri Lanka ), often referred to as Murali, is a Sri Lankan cricketer who was statistically rated the greatest Test-Match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2002. He is Test cricket's highest wicket-taker, having overtaken the previous record-holder Shane Warne on December 3, 2007. Muralitharan had held the record before when he surpassed West Indies' Courtney Walsh's 519 wickets in 2004.

But he suffered a shoulder injury later that year and was then overtaken by Warne. He is also second in the list of wicket-takers in One Day Internationals. Averaging over six wickets per Test, Muttiah Muralitharan is one of the most successful bowlers in the game and the greatest player in Sri Lanka's history. He plays domestic cricket for the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club, and county cricket for Lancashire as an overseas player. Muralitharan's career been beset with controversy, his bowling action called into question on a number of occasions by umpires and sections of the cricket community. After biomechanical studies, Muralitharan's action was cleared by the International Cricket Council, first in 1996 and again in 1999. The legality of his doosra was first called into question in 2004 . This delivery was found to exceed the ICC elbow extension limit of five degrees, assigned for spinners at that time. Based on of official studies into bowling actions, the International Cricket Council revised the elbow flexion limits applying to all bowlers in 2005. Muralitharan's doosra falls within the revised limits.

Muralitharan was left out of the one-day touring squad to West Indies in early 2008, leading to speculation that he may be focusing on test cricket in the future while Sri Lanka builds a younger squad for one day internationals. Early years and personal life Muttiah Muralitharan is a Sri Lankan Tamil of Indian origin. His paternal grandfather Periyasamy Sinasamy came from South India to work in the tea plantations of central Sri Lanka. Muralitharan was born in the village of Nattarampotha in Kundasale (near Kandy), as the eldest of the four sons to Sinnasamy Muttiah and Lakshmi. Muralitharan's father Sinnasamy Muttiah, runs a successful biscuit-making business. When he was nine years old Muralitharan was sent to St.Anthony’s College, Kandy, a private school run by Benedictine monks. He began his cricketing career as a medium pace bowler, but on the advice of his school coach, Sunil Fernando, he took up off spin when he was fourteen years old. He soon impressed and went on to play for four years in the school First XI.

In those days he played as an all rounder and batted in the middle order. In his final two seasons at St Anthony's college he took over one hundred wickets and in 1990/1 was named as the 'Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year'. After leaving school, he joined Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club and was selected for the Sri Lanka A tour of England in 1991. He played in five games but failed to capture a single wicket. On his return to Sri Lanka he impressed against Allan Border's Australian team in a practice game and then went on to make his test debut at R. Premadasa Stadium in the Second Test Match of the series. When his grandfather died at the age of 104, in July 2004, Muralitharan returned home from a tour of India to attend his funeral. Periyasamy Sinasamy's first wish to see Muralitharan claiming the world record for the most Test wickets was realised (passing the record set by Courtney Walsh), but not his desire to live to see his grandson married. Muralitharan's grandmother had passed away one month earlier at the age of 97.

Muralitharan's manager, Kushil Gunasekera stated that "Murali's family is closely knit and united. They respect traditional values. The late grandfather enjoyed a great relationship with Murali." Muralitharan, married Madhimalar Ramamurthy, an Indian national, on March 21, 2005. Madhimalar is the daughter of late Dr S. Ramamurthy of Malar Hospitals, and his wife Dr Nithya Ramamurthy. Their first child, Naren, was born in January 2006. Spelling of name Even though his name has been widely romanised as Muralitharan since the commencement of his career, the cricketer himself prefers to romanise his name as Muralidaran. In 2007, when Cricket Australia decided to unveil the new Warne-Muralidaran Trophy, to be contested between Australia and Sri Lanka, Muralitharan was requested to clarify how his name should be spelt. Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young confirmed that "the spelling he's given is Muralidaran".

The first day cover involving Muralitharan bears an official seal captioned as "The highest wicket taker in Test cricket, MUTHIAH MURALIDARAN, First Day of Issue 03.12.2007, Camp Post Office, Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium, Kandy". Domestic cricket In Sri Lanka In domestic cricket, Muralitharan has played for two first-class Sri Lankan sides, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club in the Premier Trophy and Central Province in the Provincial Championship. His record has been exceptional - 234 wickets at 14.51 runs in 46 matches. In England He has also played county cricket in England, mainly for Lancashire (from 1999 until 2007) where he appeared in twenty eight first-class games for the club. He played five first class games for Kent during the 2003 season. His bowling record in English domestic cricket is also exceptional - 236 wickets at 15.62 runs in 33 matches. Despite his efforts, he has not been on a title winning first-class domestic team in either the Premier Trophy or the County Championship.

He is unusual amongst the majority of current test players in having played in more test matches than other first-class games (116 tests and 99 other first class matches as of 30 November 2007). In India In February 2008, Muralitharan was slated to play Twenty20 cricket for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) . He was bought for $ 600,000 by India Cements, the Chennai franchisee of the IPL, through a bidding process. International career Bowling style and career progress A graph showing Muralitharan's test career bowling statistics and how they have varied over time. Muralitharan is the first wrist-spinning offspinner in the history of the game. He bowls marathon spells, yet is forever on the attack. His unique bowling action begins with a open-chested short run-up, and culminates with an extremely wristy release which had him mistaken for a leg-spinner early in his career by Allan Border.

Aside from his off break, his main deliveries are a fast topspinner which goes straight on, and the doosra, a surprise delivery which turns from leg to off (the opposite direction of his stock delivery) with no easily discernible change of action. His newest variation is a version of Shane Warne's slider, which is flicked out the side of his hand and rushes onto batsmen like a flipper. His super-flexible wrist makes him especially potent and guarantees him turn on any surface. Since his debut in 1992, Muralitharan has taken over 700 Test wickets and over 450 One Day International wickets, becoming the first player to take 1,000 wickets combined in the two main forms of international cricket. Test cricket Immerging years On 28 August 28, 1992 at the age of 20, Muralitharan made his debut against Australia at the Khettarama Stadium and claimed 3 for 141. Craig McDermott was his first Test wicket. His freakish action and his angular run-up showed that this was no run-of-the-mill spinner.

During his first test, there was one dismissal which convinced many of Muralitharan's special powers. Tom Moody's leg-stump was dislodged when he shouldered arms to a delivery that pitched at least two feet outside the off-stump. The youthful Muralitharan went from strength to strength, playing a major part in Sri Lanka's back-to-back Test victories against England and New Zealand in 1992-93. It was at this point in his career that he struck a close bond with his leader, mentor and one time business partner, the authoritative captain Arjuna Ranatunga. This relationship formed the bedrock of his success and meant that there were few doubts about his status as the team's sole wicket-taker. Ranatunga was thoroughly convinced that Muralitharan's precocious talent would signal a new era in Sri Lanka's short Test history. In August 1993 at Moratuwa, Muralitharan captured 5 for 104 in South Africa's first innings, his first five-wicket haul in Tests. His wickets include Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronje and Jonty Rhodes.

Muralitharan has continued to baffle batsman outside the shores of Sri Lanka, irrespective of the team's performance. In Sri Lanka's humiliating drubbing at the hands of India in 1993-94, where all three Tests were innings defeats, Muralitharan was the sole success, with 12 wickets in the rubber. His perseverance in the face of some astronomical scores by the fearsome quartet of Mohammed Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar , Navjot Sidhu and Vinod Kambli was in sharp contrast to the submission with which his team-mates played the series. It was in New Zealand in March 1995 that Muralitharan displayed his qualities as a match-winner on any surface. In Sri Lanka's first triumph on foreign soil, Muralitharan confused the crease-bound New Zealanders on a grassy pitch in Dunedin. The Sri Lankan manager Duleep Mendis' claim that Muralitharan can turn the ball on concrete was confirmed. On the eve of his tour of Pakistan later that year, doubts were cast on his ability to trouble subcontinental batsmen.

By taking 19 wickets in the series and delivering a historic 2-1 victory, the off-spinner silenced the doubters. The Pakistanis, who had negotiated Warne's leg-breaks in the previous home series, were never at ease against him. Boxing day test 1995 During the second test between Sri Lanka and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day 1995, Australian umpire Darrell Hair called Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing in front of a crowd of 55,239. The off-spinner, was no-balled seven times in three overs by Hair, who believed the then-23-year-old was bending his arm and straightening it in the process of delivery; an illegal action in cricket. The drama unfolded midway through the second session of play. Muralitharan had bowled two overs before lunch from umpire Steve Dunne's or the members' end of the ground with umpire Hair at square leg and these passed without incident. At 2.34 he took up the attack from umpire Hair's or the southern end.

Muralitharan's third over was a maiden with all deliveries again passed as legitimate but in his fourth Hair no-balled him twice for throwing on the fourth and sixth balls. The umpire continued to call him three times in his fifth over on the second, fourth and sixth balls. While the bowler stood with his hands on his hips perplexed, the five calls provoked an immediate response by the Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga who left the field at 3.03 in order to take advice from his team management. He returned at 3.08 and continued with Muralitharan who was called two more times in his sixth over on the second and sixth balls. At 3.17 Ranatunga removed the offending bowler from the attack although he reintroduced him at 3.30 at umpire Dunne's end. Although Hair reports in his book, Decision Maker, that at the end of the tea break he stated that he would call Muralitharan no matter which end he bowled he did not do so.

Muralitharan completed another twelve overs without further no-balls and, after bowling Mark Waugh, finished the day with figures of 18-3-58-1. The controversy bubbled on during the two-day Australian innings. After being no-balled Muralitharan bowled further 32 overs from umpire Steve Dunne's end without protest from either Dunne or Hair, at square leg. The Sri Lankan camp was outraged after the incident, but the ICC leapt to Hair's defence, outlining a list of steps they had taken in the past to determine, without result, the legitimacy of Muralitharan's action. By calling Muralitharan from the bowlers' end Hair overrode what is normally regarded as the authority of the square leg umpire in adjudicating on throwing. Dunne would have had to break convention to support his partner. It is not surprising that he did not do so. At the end of the match the Sri Lankans requested from the ICC permission to confer with Hair in order to find out exactly how to remedy the problem with their bowler.

Despite the game's controlling body agreeing to it, the Australian Cricket Board vetoed it on the grounds that it might lead to umpires being quizzed by teams after every game. In the circumstances the ACB's attitude was odd and meant that the throwing controversy would continue into the World Series Cup during the coming week. The Sri Lankans were entitled to an explanation and would continue playing their bowler in matches not umpired by Hair and putting other umpires on notice to either support or reject Hair's judgement. Mid career In January 1998, Muralitharan took his first ten-wicket haul against Zimbabwe in the first Test at Kandy. Sri Lanka won by eight wickets and Muralitharan had figures of 12 for 117. In August that same year Muralitharan produces his career-best test match figures of 16 for 220, in the one-off Test against England. Ben Hollioake becomes his 200th Test wicket. Sri Lanka won by ten wickets, their first Test victory in England.

Playing his 58th Test, Muralitharan claimed his 300th Test wicket when he dismissed Shaun Pollock in the first Test in Durban, in December 2000 . Only Dennis Lillee reached the milestone faster, in his 56th Test. On January 4, 2002 in Kandy Muralitharan might have finished with the best-ever figures for a single innings, but after he had claimed nine wickets against Zimbabwe Russel Arnold dropped a catch at short leg. He missed out on the tenth when Chaminda Vaas dismissed Henry Olonga caught behind amid stifled appeals. Muralitharan follows up his 9 for 51 in the first innings with 4 for 64 in the second, equaling Richard Hadlee's record of 10 ten-wicket match hauls, but needing 15 fewer Tests to do so. On January 15, 2002 playing in his 72nd Test, Muralitharan became the fastest to reach the 400-wicket landmark when he bowled Olonga in the third Test in Galle.

Passing Walsh and Warne In May 2004, Muralitharan overtook West Indian Courtney Walsh's record of 519 Test match wickets to become the highest wicket-taker. Zimbabwe's Mluleki Nkala becomes Muralitharan's 520th scalp in Tests. Muralitharan held the record until Shane Warne claimed it in October 2004. Warne surpassed Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan's mark of 532 wickets by dismissing India's Irfan Pathan. Warne said he enjoyed his duel with Muralitharan, who was sidelined following shoulder surgery at the time. After an outstanding year Muralitharan was adjudged as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World in 2006. In six Tests, he took 60 wickets. He took ten in each of four successive matches, the second time he has performed such a feat. The opponents for his 60-wicket haul were England away, South Africa at home and New Zealand away: serious opposition. In all, Muralitharan took 90 wickets in 11 Tests in the calendar year.

In July 2007, Muttiah Muralitharan become the second bowler after Australia's Shane Warne to capture 700 Test wickets. The off spinner reached the landmark when he had Bangladesh 's last man Syed Rasel caught in the deep by Farveez Maharoof on the fourth day of the third and final Test at the Asgiriya stadium in Kandy. The dismissal signalled Sri Lanka's victory by an innings and 193 runs to give the host a 3-0 sweep of the series. Muralitharan finished with six wickets in each innings to claim 10 wickets or more in a Test for the 20th time. However, he was unable to pass Warne's record of 708 wickets when Sri Lanka toured Australia in November 2007, capturing just 4 wickets in two test matches. Muralitharan reclaimed the record for most test wickets during the first Test against England at Kandy on December 3, 2007. The spinner, bowled England's Paul Collingwood to claim his 709th Test victim and overtaking Shane Warne in the process..

Muralitharan reached the mark in his 116th Test - 29 fewer than Warne - and had conceded only 21.77 runs per wicket compared to the Australian's 25.41. This was Muralitharan's 61st 5-wicket haul. Warne believes that Muralitharan will take "1,000 wickets" before he retires. Former record holder Courtney Walsh has also opined that this is possible if Muralitharan retains his hunger for wickets. Muralitharan himself believes there is a possibility that he will reach this milestone. Performance analysis A Summary of Muralitharan's Test bowling performance against all opponents. Muttiah Muralitharan's greatness lies in the fact that even when batsmen read him, there is little they can do to keep him out. He didn't appear on the international scene a finished product, every trick in place, every nuance worked out, with only the minor detail of wicket-taking to follow.

It took him 27 Tests to claim 100 wickets; the hundreds thereafter came in 15, 16, 14, 15, 14 and 12 Tests respectively. This wasn't a genius that was created behind closed doors, but one that evolved out in the open, in front of thousands of spectators. In July 2007, Muralitharan achieved a career peak Test Bowling Rating of 920, based on the LG ICC Player Rankings. This is the highest ever rating achieved by a spin bowler in test cricket. This also puts him in 4th place in the LG ICC Best-Ever Test bowling ratings. Muralitharan has the unique distinction of getting 10 or more wickets in a match against all other 9 test playing nations as well as capturing over 50 wickets against each of them. He has also obtained 7 or more wickets in an innings against 5 nations, namely England , India , South Africa , West Indies and Zimbabwe (refer to table above).

He currently holds the highest wickets/match ratio (6.1) for any bowler with over 200 Test wickets and has also represented Sri Lanka in 118 tests of the 175 that they have played (67.4%). As a match-winner, Muralitharan has no rival. In the 45 Tests that Sri Lanka have won with him in the team, he has taken a phenomenal 373 wickets - that's more than eight per match - at an average of 15 and a strike rate of 41. Only Warne, with 510, and Glenn McGrath (414) have taken more wickets in wins. Muralitharan's record has few blemishes, but the two teams he hasn't quite conquered have been Australia and India. He had a disappointing series in Australia in late 2007, averaging 100 runs per wicket, while in eight Tests he has played in India, he has only managed 31 wickets at 39.58 apiece.

The other criticism sometimes leveled - quite unfairly - against Muralitharan is the number of wickets he has taken against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. He has done exceptionally well against them, but remove those matches from his career numbers, and the statistics still look very good. Against teams excluding Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, Muralitharan has taken 560 wickets in 95 tests at an average of 23.86, which is still superior to Warne's career average of 25.36. Man of match awards Muralitharan has won 18 Man of the Match awards in test cricket. Image:Murali MOM tests.jpg Muttiah Muralitharan - A List of Man of Match Awards in Tests. One day internationals Muralitharan's best ODI bowling performances - A List of 4 or more wickets in a match. On August 12, 1993 Muralitharan made his one day international (ODI) debut against India at the Khettarama Stadium and took 1 for 38 off ten overs. Praveen Amre was his first ODI wicket.

On October 27, 2000 in Sharjah, Murali captured 7 for 30 against India, which were then the best bowling figures in One Day Internationals. In April 9, 2002 Muralitharan achieved a career peak ODI Bowling Rating of 913, based on the LG ICC Player Rankings. This is the highest ever rating achieved by a spin bowler in One Day Internationals. This also puts him in 4th place in the LG ICC Best-Ever ODI bowling ratings. In 2006, Muralitharan had the second (now third) highest number of runs (99) hit off him in a One Day International Innings. Muralitharan has played in 4 Cricket World Cup tournaments, in 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007. He has captured 53 world cup wickets in 31 matches, and has represented Sri Lanka in two World Cup finals. In 1996 Muralitharan was part Sri Lanka's World Cup winning team that defeated Australia in Lahore, Pakistan .

Muralitharan also played in the 2007 World Cup final, when Australia defeated Sri Lanka in Bridgetown, Barbados . He picked up 23 wickets in the 2007 World Cup, and finished as the second highest wicket taker in the tournament behind Glenn McGrath. Muttiah Muralitharan was left out of the Sri Lankan one-day squad to tour West Indies in April 2008. The chairman of selectors Ashantha De Mel clarifying the non selection stated that "We know he (Muralitharan) can still play in the next World Cup if he is properly looked after, so we want to use him sparingly to preserve him for the big games and the World Cup coming up in the Asian sub-continent where Muralitharan will be a threat." Currently, Muralitharan has second highest number of career wickets in One Day Internationals, behind Wasim Akram. He has won 11 Man of the Match awards in this form of the game.

Abuse in Australia Muttiah Muralitharan who has been routinely heckled by Australian crowds, bowling in a One Day International against Australia at Brisbane in early 2006. Muralitharan has voiced his frustration at routinely being heckled by Australian crowds who accuse him of throwing - one common jeer directed at him was "No Ball!". Following the then Australian Prime Minister John Howard 's statement that Murali was a "chucker" , in 2004 , Muralitharan indicated that he would skip future tours to Australia. Tom Moody, the former Sri Lanka coach, said he was embarrassed by the derogatory reaction and negative attention directed towards Muttiah Muralitharan by Australian crowds. Moody stated that "As an Australian when I have been with the Sri Lankan team in Australia, or playing against them in the World Cup, it's the only situation we find in the whole of the cricketing world where we have this disgraceful slant on a cricketer". During the 2008 CB series in Australia, some members of the Sri Lankan contingent including Muralitharan, were the target of an egg throwing incident in Hobart.

The Sri Lankan cricket selector, Don Anurasiri, was hit by an egg, while Muralitharan and two others were verbally abused by a car-load of people as they were walking from a restaurant back to the hotel. Due to the incident taking place at night, it is unclear whether Muralitharan was indeed the target of the culprits. Even though the Australian coach of the Sri Lankan team, Trevor Bayliss, down-played the incident as "a non-event", Cricket Australia tightened security around the team. In response to this episode Muralitharan was quoted as saying "When you come to Australia, you expect such incidents". Recognition In 2002, Wisden carried out a statistical analysis of all Test matches in an effort to rate the greatest cricketers in history, and Muralitharan was ranked as the best test bowler of all time. However, two years earlier, Muralitharan was not named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century. Former Australian captain Steve Waugh called him "the Don Bradman of bowling".

Muralitharan was selected as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World in 2000 and in 2006. On November 15, 2007, the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy was unveiled named after the two leading wicket-takers in Test cricket, Shane Warne and Muralitharan. The trophy displays images of the two spin bowlers' hands each holding a cricket ball. This trophy will be contested between Australia and Sri Lanka in all future Test series. On December 3, 2007, just hours after Muttiah Muralitharan became Test cricket's leading wicket-taker, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) announced it had unveiled a portrait of the Sri Lanka off-spinner at Lord's. On the same day the Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts in Sri Lanka issued a circular stamp with a denomination of Rs. 5 to mark the world record set by Muttiah Muralitharan. The circular design was meant to denote the cricket ball. Australian musician Alston Koch provoked worldwide interest when he recorded the only tribute song to Muralitharan, the song was even mentioned on the BBC's Test Match Special.

The Muralitharan Song video was also released after he broke the world record. On January 10, 2008, the Parliament of Sri Lanka felicitated Muttiah Muralitharan for his world record breaking feat of being the highest wicket taker in Test cricket. This is the first time that a sportsman has been honoured in the country’s Supreme Legislature. Controversy of bowling action Throwing citation and clearance Initial concerns as to whether Muralitharan's action contravened the laws of the game by straightening his right arm further than is allowed while bowling broke into open controversy after Australian umpire Darrell Hair called a " no ball" for an illegal action seven times during the Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne , Australia, in 1995. Australian Sir Donald Bradman , universally regarded as the greatest batsman in history, was later quoted as saying it was the "worst example of umpiring that [he had] witnessed, and against everything the game stands for. Clearly Murali does not throw the ball".

Muralitharan was later no-balled for throwing by Australian umpires Ross Emerson and Tony McQuillan in a One Day International against the West Indies , in Brisbane , Australia, during the same summer. Following the end of the season, Muralitharan underwent biomechanical analysis at the University of Western Australia and at the University of Hong Kong under the supervision of biomechanical experts, who declared his action legal, citing a congenital defect in Muralitharan's arm which makes him incapable of straightening it any further, but giving the appearance of the arm straightening. They concluded that his action created the 'optical illusion of throwing'. Based on this evidence ICC gave clearance to Muralitharan to continue bowling. Doubts about Muralitharan's action persisted however, on the 1998-99 tour to Australia he was once again called for throwing by Ross Emerson during a One Day International against England at the Adelaide Oval in Australia.

The Sri Lankan team almost abandoned the match, but after instructions from the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, the game resumed.The Sri Lankan captain at the time Arjuna Ranatunga, was later fined and given a suspended ban from the game as a result. It later emerged that at the time of this match Emerson was on sick leave from his job due to a stress-related illness and he stood down for the rest of the series. Muralitharan was sent for further tests in Perth and England and was cleared again. At no stage was Muralitharan requested to change or remodel his action, by the ICC. Up to this point in his career (1999) Muralitharan primarily bowled two types of deliveries, namely the off break and the topspinner. He had not yet mastered the doosra. Doosra controversy Muralitharan continued bowling, taking his 500th Test wicket in the second Test against Australia in Kandy on March 16, 2004 . At the end of the series his doosra delivery was officially called into question by match referee Chris Broad.

At the University of Western Australia (Department of Human Movement and Exercise Science), three-dimensional kinematic measurements of Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling arm were taken using an optical motion capture system while he bowled his doosra. Murali’s mean elbow extension angle for the doosra delivery was 14°, which was subsequently reduced to a mean of 10.2° with a modified action. Though Elliott et al. (2004) concluded that "Mr. Muralitharan be permitted to continue bowling his doosra at least until a valid data base is collected on the various spin bowling disciplines", the overwhelming response was that Murali’s doosra contravened the established ICC elbow extension limit of 5° for spinners. Under the original throwing Laws of Cricket, the umpires officiating were under an obligation to call "no-ball" to a delivery that they were not entirely happy was absolutely fair. This Law gave the umpires absolutely no discretion. In 2000, the Laws were changed to put an allowable figure of straightening of 5° for spinners, 7.5° for medium pacers and 10° for fast bowlers.

These figures proved difficult to enforce due to umpires being unable to discern actual amounts of straightening and the differentiation between the three different allowable figures. Testing in Test Match conditions is not currently possible "when the identification of elbow and shoulder joint centres in on-field data collection, where a shirt is worn, also involves large errors. In a match the ability to differentiate anatomical movements such as 'elbow extension' by digitising segment end-points, particularly if you have segment rotations, is extremely difficult and prone to error. This is certainly the case with spin bowlers. It is therefore not surprising that laboratory testing is preferred, particularly for spin bowlers, where an appropriate pitch length and run-up can be structured. This is clearly the only way to test players, where data would be able to withstand scientific and therefore legal scrutiny." An extensive ICC study, the results of which were released in November 2004, was conducted to investigate the "chucking issue". A laboratory kinematic analysis of 42 non-Test playing bowlers done by Ferdinands and Kersting (2004) established that the 5° limit for slow and spin bowlers was particularly impractical.

The researchers recommended that a flat rate of 15° tolerable elbow extension be used to define a preliminary demarcation point between bowling and throwing. A panel of former Test players consisting of Aravinda de Silva, Angus Fraser, Michael Holding, Tony Lewis, Tim May and the ICC's David Richardson, with the assistance of several biomechanical experts, revealed that 99% of all bowlers in the history of cricket straighten their arms when bowling.. Only one player tested (part-time bowler Ramnaresh Sarwan) reportedly did not transgress the rules. Muralitharan's off break and topspinner were deemed within the rules (2 to 5 degree straightening). Many of these reports have controversially not been published. Infact, Muralitharan stirred up controversy when he said during an interview with a Melbourne radio station that Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee flexed their arms by 12, 13 and 14-15 degrees respectively. Muralitharan was censured by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board for these comments. The ICC Executive was asked to ratify the panel's recommendations at the ICC's annual general meeting in February 2005.

Based on the recommendations the ICC issued a new guideline (which was effective from March 1, 2005) allowing for extensions or hyperextensions of up to 15 degrees for all types of bowlers thus deeming Muralitharan's doosra to be legal. Explaining why the maximum level of 15 degrees of arrived at, panel member Angus Fraser stated "That is the number which biomechanics says that it (straightening) becomes visible. It is difficult for the naked eye to see less than 15 degrees in a bowler's action. We found when the bicep reached the shoulder the amount of bend was around 165 degrees. Very few bowlers can get to 180 degrees because the joint doesn't allow that. ...... but once you go further than 15 degrees you get into an area which is starting to give you an unfair advantage and you are breaking the law". Bowling with an arm brace In July 2004 Muralitharan was filmed in England, bowling with an arm brace on. The film was shown on Britain's Channel 4 during the Test against England on July 22, 2004.

Initially, Muralitharan bowled three balls - the off-spinner, the top-spinner and the doosra - as he would in a match. Then he bowled the same three balls with a brace that is made from steel bars, which are set into strong resin. This brace has been moulded to his right arm, is approximately 46 centimetres long and weighs just under 1 kilogram. TV presenter Mark Nicholas who tried the brace himself, confirmed that "There is no way an arm can be bent, or flexed, when it is in this brace." All three balls reacted in the same way as when bowled without the brace. They were not bowled quite so fast because the weight of the brace restricts the speed of Muralitharan's shoulder rotation, but the spin was still there. With the brace on, there still appeared to be a jerk in his action. When studying the film at varying speeds, it still appeared as if he straightened his arm, even though the brace makes it impossible to do so. His unique shoulder rotation and amazing wrist action seem to create the illusion that he straightens his arm.

The off spinner said the exercise was to convince a sceptical public rather than sway an ICC investigation into bowling actions launched after he was reported by match referee Chris Broad for his doosra delivery in March 2004, the third time action has been taken on his bowling. In an interview for August 2004 edition of Wisden Asia Cricket, Muralitharan stated "I think it will prove a point to those who had said that it was physically impossible to bowl a ball that turned the other way. I proved that it was possible to bowl the doosra without bending the arm." Critics and converts Two vocal critics of Muralitharan's action have been former Test cricketers, Australian Dean Jones and Bishan Bedi, the former Indian captain. Michael Holding, the former West Indian fast bowler was also a critic of Muralitharan, but withdrew his critisisms under the light of the tests carried out. Holding has been quoted as being in "110% agreement" with Bedi, who likened Murali's action to a "javelin throw" and more recently, compared to a "shot putter".

Following the ICC study, as a member of the panel that conducted the study, Holding stated, "The scientific evidence is overwhelming... When bowlers who to the naked eye look to have pure actions are thoroughly analysed with the sophisticated technology now in place, they are likely to be shown as straightening their arm by 11 and in some cases 12 degrees. Under a strict interpretation of the law, these players are breaking the rules. The game needs to deal with this reality and make its judgment as to how it accommodates this fact." In May 2002, Adam Gilchrist, speaking at a Carlton (Australian) Football Club luncheon, claimed Muralitharan's action does not comply with the rules of cricket. The Melbourne-based Age newspaper quoted Gilchrist as saying."Yeah, I think he does (chuck), and I say that because, if you read the laws of the game, there's no doubt in my mind that he and many others, throughout cricket history have." These comments were made before the doosra controversy, inspite of Muralitharan's action having been cleared by ICC in both 1996 and 1999.

For his outburst Gilchrist was reprimanded by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) and found guilty of being in breach of ACB rules concerned with "detrimental public comment". During the 2006 tour of New Zealand another Muralitharan critic, former New Zealand captain and cricket commentator Martin Crowe called for Muralitharan's doosra to be monitored more closely, asserting that his action seemed to deteriorate during a match. Earlier that year when delivering the Cowdrey lecture at Lords Martin Crowe had demanded zero tolerance instead of 15 degrees for throwing and specifically branded Muttiah Muralitharan a chucker. In response to Crowe's criticism ICC general manager David Richardson stated that the scientific evidence presented by bio-mechanists Professor Bruce Elliot, Dr Paul Hurrion and Mr Marc Portuswith was overwhelming and clarified that "Some bowlers, even those not suspected of having flawed actions, were found likely to be straightening their arms by 11 or 12 degrees. And at the same time, some bowlers that may appear to be throwing may be hyper-extending or bowl with permanently bent elbows.

Under a strict interpretation of the law, they were breaking the rules - but if we ruled out every bowler that did that then there would be no bowlers left." Batting An agressive lower order batsman who usually bats at No. 11, Muralitharan is known for his tendency to back away to leg and slog. His highest Test score of 67 came against India at Kandy in 2001, including three sixes and five fours. He has made valuable scores on occasion, including 30 runs against England at the Oval in 1998, including 5 fours, 38 runs (4 fours, 1 six) against England at Galle in 2003, 43 runs (5 fours, 3 sixes) against Australia at Kandy in 2004 and 36 runs against the West Indies at Colombo in 2005. Muralitharan has a strike rate close to 70 in test cricket and has scored over 55% of his test runs in fours and sixers.

Muralitharan together with Chaminda Vaas holds the record for the highest 10th wicket partnership in tests for Sri Lanka. The pair put on 79 runs for the last wicket at the Asgiriya Stadium against Australia in March 2004. Muralitharan was run out in controversial circumstances by New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum at Christchurch in 2006. After his batting partner Kumar Sangakkara reached his century, Muralitharan grounded his bat and went to congratulate Sangakkara. However the ball was not yet dead as it had was being returned to the keeper from the outfield, allowing McCullum to complete the run out. New Zealand Stephen Fleming defended the run out, although the Sri Lankan team and many others did not consider the dismissal to be in the spirit of the game. Philanthropy Muralitharan, along with his manager Kushil Gunasekara, established the Foundation of Goodness , a charity organisation, in the early 2000s.

This organisation is committed to the wellbeing of the Seenigama region (in southern Sri Lanka) and supports local communities through a range of projects across areas including children’s needs, education and training, healthcare and psycho-social support, housing, livelihoods, sport and the environment. In June 2004, Muralitharan also joined the United Nations World Food Program as an ambassador to fight hunger among school children. When the tsunami devastated Sri Lanka on December 26, 2004 , Muralitharan galvanised into action to ensure that aid reached people that needed it. He himself narrowly escaped death, arriving 20 minutes late at Seenigama, where he was to give away prizes at one of the charity projects he worked on. While international agencies were bringing food in by air, there was an urgent need for transport, and Murali organised three convoys of 10 trucks each, paying for these himself, to get the food to people who needed it. He persuaded those who could to donate clothes, and supervised the delivery himself. During the hard work of rehabilitation in the tsunami’s aftermath, cement was in short supply.

Muralitharan promptly signed an endorsement deal with Lafarge, a global cement giant, that was a straight barter, where cement would be supplied to the Foundation for Goodness in exchange for work Muralitharan did. During the first three years since the tsunami, the foundation raised more than US$ 4 million to help survivors, and has built homes, schools, sports facilities and computer centres. World records and achievements Muttiah Muralitharan holds a number of world records, and several firsts: The most Test wickets (723 wickets as of 22 December 2007). The highest number of international wickets in Tests and ODIs combined (1187 wickets as of 19 March 2008). The most 5-wicket hauls in an innings at Test level (62). The most 10-wicket hauls in a match at Test level (20). He is the only player to take 10 wickets/match against every Test playing nation.

Fastest to 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650 and 700 Test wickets, in terms of matches played. Only player to take 10 wickets in a Test in four consecutive matches. Muralitharan has achieved this feat twice. Only player to take 50 or more wickets against every Test playing nation. Muralitharan and Jim Laker ( England ), are the only bowlers to have taken 9 wickets in a Test innings twice. 7 wickets in an innings against the most countries (5). Most Test wickets taken bowled (157), stumped (41) and caught & bowled (31). Bowled by Muralitharan (b Muralitharan) is the most common dismissal in Test cricket (excluding run out). Most successful bowler/fielder (non-wicket keeper) combination - c Mahela Jayawardene b Muttiah Muralitharan (65). Most Man of the Series awards in Test cricket (11).

One of only six bowlers who have dismissed all the eleven batsmen in a Test match. Jim Laker, Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, Geoff Dymock, Abdul Qadir and Waqar Younis are the others. Most test wickets in a single ground. Muralitharan is the only bowler to capture 100-plus Test wickets at two venues, the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo and the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy. The only bowler to take 75 or more wickets in a calendar year on three occasions, achieving it in 2000, 2001 and 2006.

Test wicket milestones Murali sparks delirium in Kandy | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo Sri Lanka v England 2007-08 Sri Lanka v England, 1st Test, Kandy, 3rd day December 3, 2007 Murali sparks delirium in Kandy The moment: Muralitharan dismisses Collingwood, his 709th Test victim © Getty Images He was made to wait, longer than he or any of his legions of admirers could ever have imagined, but in end, the inevitable could not be postponed indefinitely. Muttiah Muralitharan, with a snake of a delivery that slithered past Paul Collingwood's half-formed defences and into the middle and off stumps, reclaimed his world record to spark scenes of delirium in his home town of Kandy. The atmosphere in the morning had been nothing short of reverential. On any other day, the early start time of 10am might have caught his punters on the hop, but not today.

They were ready as soon as dawn broke, and came flooding into the Asgiriya armed with banners, flags, drums and good humour, to put the finishing touches to a pageant that had begun with Murali's irresistible onslaught on the second afternoon. The band at the foot of the Old Trinitians' clubhouse set the tempo, maintaining a frantic rhythm all throughout the first hour. And yet, England batted with a sense of purpose matched only by the sense of expectation. Collingwood nudged and hustled, and even unfurled a timely reverse sweep, while Ryan Sidebottom defied all predictions of his impending demise - no shot was better than his sweetly timed tuck off the pads to the midwicket boundary. The supporters began to fret as the drinks session came and went. Murali took his cap and retreated from the attack after seven typically tight yet improbably fruitless overs, and Mahela Jayawardene took the new ball. The Barmy Army raised their voices in admiration for the efforts of their batsmen, but the over-riding feeling in the ground was more akin to the Grinch stealing Christmas. This wasn't scripted in the Kandy coronation.

The new ball did the trick and Sidebottom nudged a low catch to the keeper, but still England's resistance went on. An eight-over hiatus, and there was nothing else for it. Back came Murali to more glorious acclaim, and the band struck up a quick-step to hasten him to his goal. This time, there would be no more deviation from the script. Collingwood negotiated three anxious deliveries, the third of which ballooned teasingly off the pad, but the fourth fizzed into the stumps and pandemonium ensued. Murali punched both fists in the air in triumph and hurtled down the pitch to be engulfed by his jubilant team-mates. The crowd formed a conga on the grass beneath the scorecard, while up on the hillside - where the monks were looking on approvingly - a barrage of firecrackers filled the air with noise and smoke to alert Murali's townsfolk that history had been achieved. "I meant to spin it one way and the ball went the other way," he grinned as the media engulfed him at the end of the innings. If he didn't know what he planned to do, what hope the batsmen? He's been here before of course.

Back in May 2004, Murali overhauled Courtney Walsh's mark of 519, but the setting on that occasion was the Harare Sports Club, and the opponents a meek and bewildered Zimbabwe. This time the stakes could hardly be higher. The acclaim for his record could not entirely distract from the success of England's batsmen. He and his team are in a battle in this Test, which you sense is exactly how he likes it. Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo © ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Sri Lanka build lead on Murali's record day | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo Sri Lanka v England 2007-08 Sri Lanka v England, 1st Test, Kandy, 3rd day December 3, 2007 Sri Lanka build lead on Murali's record day Muttiah Muralitharan sets off in celebration after bowling Paul Collingwood to claim the world record © AFP Given the twists and turns witnessed at Kandy over the last three days it would be foolish to predict the outcome of this Test, but Sri Lanka fought back impressively to wipe out England's hard-earned 93-run lead and they hold the advantage of bowling last. Muttiah Muralitharan's hunt for his 709th wicket ended midway through a frustrating morning when he bowled Paul Collingwood, then another of Sri Lanka's greats, Sanath Jayasuriya, made a statement of his own with a flamboyant 78 before confirming that this will be his final Test.

Muralitharan will probably play on until his legs drop off, and 1000 wickets is a realistic aim, which would leave him virtually untouchable at the top, but rumours were abound that Jayasuriya was about to call time on his Test career. He received a semi-hug from Kumar Sangakkara as he left the field after giving the crowd a snapshot of what made him Sri Lanka's most destructive batsman of his generation. His 106-ball innings included six boundaries off James Anderson's fifth over, only the second time the feat has been achieved in a six-ball over during a Test, with Matthew Hoggard the other member of an ignominious club. The way England's tail hung around and Sri Lanka batted during the second two sessions confounded expectations around the pitch, which didn't show much deterioration. However, chasing anything over 200 will be an almighty test so the lead is already growing towards worrying proportions from Michael Vaughan's point of view. Muralitharan admitted "the pressure is off" now the world record is his, and a relaxed Murali in the final innings is an even more menacing proposition.

There was less swing when England began bowling for a second time shortly before lunch. Hoggard appeared to struggle with a lower-back problem, but didn't shirk his task and continued to clock up the hard yards. The Sri Lanka openers learnt from their first-innings mistakes and played watchfully during the early exchanges, then Jayasuriya flicked a switch - as he has done so often - to dispatch Anderson's fifth over for six boundaries. He was close to being caught at slip from the second of them, when his flashing drive couldn't be hauled in by Ian Bell, as his fifty came off 62 balls. To Anderson's credit he responded with a maiden in his next over to Jayasuriya, but the momentum was moving back Sri Lanka's way. Vandort was almost invisible by comparison, but a useful foil to Jayasuriya's aggression. He had one aberration when, out of nowhere, he tried to reverse sweep Panesar but the ball brushed the arm guard not glove. Panesar was more confident bowling at Vandort, but struggled to put together a string of maidens as the batsmen rotated strike.

Hoggard went into off-cutter mode, which has brought him previous success on slow surfaces, and broke the opening stand of 113 by trapping Jayasuriya in front of leg stump, but not before his Test average had edged back above 40. Although Vandort's painstaking 143-ball 49 ended moments before the light closed in, with Bell diving a long way to his left at first slip, Sangakkara was again at ease as he reached 30. However, the fact that Sri Lanka are in a strong position almost feels like a bonus for the home support. They turned up for one reason alone in the morning and the expectation was that Muralitharan would reach his milestone early. But after yesterday's rain he was made to wait again, until his 10th over of the day - and his second spell - to finally move ahead of Shane Warne. Collingwood was the man who will go down in history as Muralitharan's 709th victim when he lost his off stump for a vital 45. Muralitharan's agonising wait seemed to consume Sri Lanka who let the match drift. England's lower order had been described as four No.

11s, but Sidebottom provided Collingwood with outstanding support. Mahela Jayawardene opted for the new ball and Muralitharan was given a rare break from bowling duties to leave the crowd in suspense. Lasith Malinga broke the 57-run stand and Muralitharan was soon back at the bowling crease. It took him three more balls and after waiting what felt like an age for the record, Muralitharan's 710th wicket was an easier affair as Hoggard was stumped trying to sweep. He led his team off, holding the ball aloft, and immediately began what will become a stream of interviews and presentations over the coming days and weeks. For the rest of the afternoon he sat contently in the pavilion, as the batsmen set about giving him a total to defend. Despite the attempts of others to steal the limelight, this is Murali's match and his part is far from over. Andrew McGlashan is a staff writer at Cricinfo © ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Cricket: Murali's delight at breaking record at home | Sport | The Guardian Murali's delight at breaking record at home 'My parents are here, my wife is here ... all the relatives are here and all my schoolfriends' Muralitharan leaves the field with his record-breaking ball. Photograph: Gareth Copley/PA Murali's delight at breaking record at home 'My parents are here, my wife is here ... all the relatives are here and all my schoolfriends' Staff and agencies Monday 3 December 2007 06.10 EST First published on Monday 3 December 2007 06.10 EST Share on Messenger Close Muttiah Muralitharan today admitted his relief at breaking the Test wicket record in Sri Lanka, as he claimed his 709th and 710th victims during the third day of the first Test against England. "It's my home town, my parents are here, my wife is here ... all the relatives are here and all my schoolfriends," he told reporters at lunch. "Everybody is here. It's a bigger moment than if I had taken it in Australia, it's the right time I think.

It's not easy to take six wickets in an innings, I managed to let my pressure off now." Playing in his 116th career Test match, Muralitharan broke Shane Warne's record by bowling England's Paul Collingwood. He previously held the record in 2004, when he broke Courtney Walsh's record, only to be overtaken by Warne. The pair then exchanged the record, until Warne moved clear in October of that year. Warne was quick to congratulate his successor, saying: "Congratulations to Murali, he's been a wonderful player for a long period of time. He's an excellent competitor and he's been great for Sri Lankan cricket. He'll probably go on and get 1,000 [wickets] now, but today I would just like to say well done on the record. Sri Lanka's president, Mahinda Rajapakse, also praised Muralitharan's achievement. "Your achievement makes Sri Lanka proud and brings new glory to Sri Lanka cricket," said Rajapakse.

"Your success today is greater as it was achieved in the midst of many challenges which you were able to overcome through the years you have been representing Sri Lanka in cricket. This achievement is a reward for your dedication to the game of cricket, especially to your immense contributions as a team player and commitment to the spirit of sportsmanship." The MCC revealed it will unveil a new portrait of Muralitharan at Lord's later this week, following his achievement. The oil-on-canvas painting is six feet tall by three-and-a-half-feet wide, and has been painted by Phil Hale, an American artist living in London. 710 not out: Muralitharan becomes Test cricket's most prolific wicket taker | Daily Mail Online 710 not out: Muralitharan becomes Test cricket's most prolific wicket taker Last updated at 09:40 05 December 2007 Muttiah Muralitharan today made Test history by reaching number one in the bowling charts against England at Asgiriya. Murali overtook spin rival Shane Warne's career haul with the dismissal of Paul Collingwood, his 709th career victim, in his 116th appearance.

Scroll down for more He added number 710 - Matthew Hoggard stumped down the leg-side - to finish with six for 55 in England's 281 all out. "Congratulations to Murali - he's been a wonderful player for a long period of time," said Australian Warne, who retired on 708 earlier this year. "He's an excellent competitor and has been great for Sri Lankan cricket. He'll probably go on and get 1000 now but today I'd just like to say, 'Well done on the record."' Thirty-five-year-old Muralitharan went wicketless in his initial nine-over spell this morning but sparked huge celebrations when he bowled Collingwood in the first over of his return. Murali's colleagues mobbed him in the middle after an off-break bounced to clip Collingwood's off stump in the 89th over of the innings. Fireworks exploded in the stands to celebrate the achievement of hometown hero Murali, who has held the record once before when he surpassed Courtney Walsh's tally of 519 wickets in 2004.

"It was not meant that way because I tried to spin the ball and it didn't spin," Murali admitted. Sri Lanka made light of their 93-run deficit thanks to a rampage from Sanath Jayasuriya - and closed on 167 for two. Surprisingly, Jayasuriya began this innings on the back of just one Test half-century in the past three years, a period in which he averaged under 20. Such a run has given credence to rumours that his retirement is imminent but if he is to go it will be in style thanks to two narrow escapes: the first on 13 when he cut a Ryan Sidebottom delivery inches short of a diving Ravi Bopara at point, followed by stinging Ian Bell's fingertips at slip off James Anderson. That was the second of six fours in one over, the fifth of which took Jayasuriya to a 62-ball 50. It was only the second time in Test history a batsman has hit every ball of a regulation six-ball over for four, following West Indian Chris Gayle's assault on Matthew Hoggard at the Oval in 2004.

Jayasuria eventually perished for 78, leg before wicket to Matthew Hoggard - his response to another confident shout in the previous over had been to pull the next delivery for six. But his 113-run partnership with Michael Vandort - Sri Lanka's biggest-ever opening stand against England - swung the advantage firmly back to the hosts. Vandort departed for 49, as the evening gloom closed in, well held by a diving Ian Bell in the slips off Anderson. The Sri Lankans were led off the field 20 minutes before lunch by Muralitharan, who was immediately presented with a trophy to mark his achievement. Earlier his wait to become Test cricket's leading wicket-taker was extended by a determined England batting effort on the third morning. Thwarted by the wet weather on the second day of the opening Test, Muralitharan proved unsuccessful for more than one hour and Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was forced to turn to the new ball for a breakthrough. It did the trick as a stubborn seventh-wicket stand between Collingwood and Ryan Sidebottom was terminated in just the third over.

Sidebottom struck a Test-best 31, the lion's share of a 57-run alliance, but perished when a thick outside edge was well held, diving forward, by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene. Then, shortly before midday, the extra bounce of the new ball accounted for Collingwood. Muralitharan drew level with previous number one Warne yesterday with four wickets before a huge deluge washed out the latter half of the second day's scheduled play. Surprisingly few locals turned up in anticipation of today's landmark, although those that did clapped his every delivery as he practised on the outfield prior to the 10am start. Sidebottom, the first member of England's lengthy tail, put the tourists into credit with an on-drive for four off Dilhara Fernando in the opening over of the morning. Having begun on 186 for six, a deficit of two runs, England made steady progress as Collingwood showed trust in his partners. Sidebottom survived one Murali over last night and fought gamely, striking only the third boundary off the off-spinner in the innings when he whipped the ball through midwicket, which also brought up the team's 200.

England's lower order have been challenged to bat for 60 balls an innings by the team management in a bid to eke out precious runs in support of the batsmen. Sidebottom surpassed that target in moving past his previous best of 26 not out while Collingwood became increasingly adventurous as the innings drew on. Improvising against Murali, he cut off his stumps for one boundary and deftly reverse-swept a three towards the end of 22 overs of defiance alongside Sidebottom. Kevin Pietersen is unlikely to field in the innings after suffering a cracked finger in the first innings - but will bat if required.

Question: When Muttiah Muralitharan took his record-breaking 709th test wicket, which England player was the victim?
Answer: Paul Collingwood