Editorial: Murali ends memorable test career in real style

Opinion

Not bad for a chucker. Muttiah Muralitharan's 800th wicket in test cricket, achieved in thrilling fashion in Sri Lanka's victory over arch foe India, is an awe-inspiring sporting landmark.

The spin bowler took the wicket with the last bowl of his last over in an 18-year career.

He had needed eight wickets in this test to hit 800 but, late in the match in the tsunami-devastated town of Galle, had looked likely to be marooned on 799, with his family, fans and most of Sri Lanka hanging on every ball.

Finishing on a round number like 800 should not matter, but it does. Murali was already 91 wickets ahead of cricket's next greatest bowler, Australian Shane Warne, before the coup de grace.

He had hundreds more scalps than greats such as Kapil Dev of India (434) and our own Sir Richard Hadlee (431). But perhaps that final wicket is like the final single that takes a batsman from a nearly-man innings of 99 runs to a champion centurion.

Muralitharan's achievement overwhelms the criticism - ostracism - he has faced over his action, caused by a birth defect which stops him straightening his bowling arm.

He is widely saluted within cricket for his cheerfulness and humility and is honoured in his homeland for tireless work for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

He retires from the long form of the game in the most dramatic and triumphant circumstances, his supple wrists and unique shoulder rotation having outfoxed the world's best batsmen, the bulging whites of his eyes having out-stared test umpires for the final time.

"Getting to 800 was not as important as winning the match," he said. "By God's grace, both things happened, which made it the greatest day of my life."

And surely one of the most memorable in the sport.