Cricket Archive

Muttiah Muralitharan

Full name: Muttiah Muralitharan

Born: 17th April 1972, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Batting: Right-hand batsman
Bowling: Right-arm off-break

Teams: Sri Lanka (Test: 1992-2007/08); ICC World XI (Test: 2005/06); Sri Lanka (ODI: 1993-2007/08); Asian Cricket Council XI (ODI: 2004/05-2005/06); ICC World XI (ODI: 2005/06); Sri Lanka (Int Twenty20: 2006/07); Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club (Main FC: 1991/92-2003/04); Lancashire (Main FC: 1999-2007); Kent (Main FC: 2003); Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club (Main ListA: 1991/92-2006/07); Lancashire (Main ListA: 1999-2007); Kent (Main ListA: 2003); Kandurata (Main ListA: 2007/08); Lancashire (Main Twenty20: 2005-2007); All teams

Lancashire Cap: 1999

Wisden Cricketer of the Year: 1999

Kent Cap: 2003

Lists of matches and more detailed statistics
Articles: Technical Committee confirms Dilruwan Perera can replace Muttiah Muralidaran in Sri Lanka squad for upcoming ICC World Twenty20

Murali edges closer to the all-time top following nine-wicket haul

Sangakkara has opportunity to make his mark

Monty Panesar is the highest rated England spinner for 30 years

List of all articles

Pictures: Portrait of Muttiah Muralitharan in 2007

Muttiah Muralitharan appeals for lbw

Muttiah Muralitharan celebrates the wicket Dhoni

Muralitharan celebrates after taking a wicket

List of all pictures

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One of the greatest spin bowlers in the history of the game, Muthiah Muralitharan has been hailed as ``magician Murali’’ and ``spin wizard’’ among other such exalted titles. He is deserving of the highest praise for his achievements defy belief. Averaging six wickets per Test his haul of five wicket and ten wicket hauls are unlikely to be beaten. Single handedly he has carried his country’s spin attack on his able shoulders Again not many bowlers have taken over 1000 first class wickets at less than 19 apiece. Murali has also over 1000 international wickets to his name and his feats in ODIs are only overshadowed by his greater deeds in Test matches. A prodigious turner of the ball on any pitch Murali beats the batsman in the air and off the surface. He is also remarkably accurate, is able to bowl the flipper without any change of action and his comparatively newly acquired `doosra’ (the one that goes the other way) spells doom for most batsmen. Reading Murali is the most difficult exam for any batsman for he has so many tricks up his sleeve. Unfortunately he has also been the most controversial cricketer in recent times because of his action that does not satisfy the purists and is based on a weird bent-arm. Shrugging off this controversy Murali has gone on to become the leading Test wicket taker (since surpassed by Shane Warne). But Murali remains ahead on average and strike rate, is three years younger and is tipped to take over at the top again before he finally calls it a day. On sheer force of his monumental achievements Murali is clearly Sri Lanka’s greatest-ever cricketer.

Test Career Batting and Fielding (1992-2007/08)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct
Sri Lanka	119	149	51	1154	67	11.77	0	1	69.39	66
ICC World XI	1	2	0	2	2	1.00	0	0	28.57	2
Overall	120	151	51	1156	67	11.56	0	1	69.22	68

Test Career Bowling (1992-2007/08)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	5wI	10wM	SRate	Econ
Sri Lanka	39711	1691	15980	730	9-51	21.89	63	20	54.39	2.41
ICC World XI	324	8	157	5	3-55	31.40	0	0	64.80	2.90
Overall	40035	1699	16137	735	9-51	21.95	63	20	54.46	2.41

First-Class Career Batting and Fielding (1990-2007/08)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct
Overall	219	263	78	2087	67	11.28	0	1	119

First-Class Career Bowling (1990-2007/08)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	5wI	10wM	SRate	Econ
Overall	62929	2808	24954	1309	9-51	19.06	115	32	48.07	2.37

One-Day International Career Batting and Fielding (1993-2007/08)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct
Sri Lanka	298	138	51	516	27	5.93	0	0	70.20	118
Asian Cricket Council XI	4	1	0	0	0	0.00	0	0	0.00	1
ICC World XI	3	0	0	0	0		0	0	0.00	1
Overall	305	139	51	516	27	5.86	0	0	70.01	120

One-Day International Career Bowling (1993-2007/08)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	4wI	5wI	SRate	Econ
Sri Lanka	16156	179	10414	453	7-30	22.98	13	8	35.66	3.86
Asian Cricket Council XI	198	2	138	6	3-59	23.00	0	0	33.00	4.18
ICC World XI	180	1	122	5	2-38	24.40	0	0	36.00	4.06
Overall	16534	182	10674	464	7-30	23.00	13	8	35.63	3.87

One-Day Career Batting and Fielding (1991/92-2007/08)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct
Overall	391	175	63	722	27	6.44	0	0	142

One-Day Career Bowling (1991/92-2007/08)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	4wI	5wI	SRate	Econ
Overall	20700	286	13115	588	7-30	22.30	15	10	35.68	3.78

International Twenty20 Career Batting and Fielding (2006/07)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct
Sri Lanka	1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0.00	0

International Twenty20 Career Bowling (2006/07)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	4wI	5wI	SRate	Econ
Sri Lanka	24	0	27	2	2-27	13.50	0	0	12.00	6.75

Twenty20 Career Batting and Fielding (2005-2007/08)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct
Overall	17	3	1	16	9	8.00	0	0	123.07	4

Twenty20 Career Bowling (2005-2007/08)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	4wI	5wI	SRate	Econ
Overall	378	1	389	23	4-18	16.91	2	0	16.43	6.17