Profile of Muttiah Muralitharan
Full Name: Muttiah Muralitharan
Born: April 17, 1972 in Kandy, Sri Lanka
Batting Style Right-handed batsman
Bowling Style Right-arm off-break
Test Debut Australia vs. Sri Lanka at Colombo: August 28 – September 2, 1992
ODI Debut : India vs. Sri Lanka at Colombo -- August 12, 1993
Easily the best magician of spin bowling, Muttiah Muralitharan has had a life far from ordinary. Riddled by endless controversies about his style of bowling, his career has still managed to reach the summit of international cricket. Murali is undoubtedly one of the most successful cricketers in Sri Lanka.
Having made his debut in 1992, Muttiah Muralitharan has played 305 One-dayers, claiming 464 wickets at a phenomenal economy rate of 3.87. His record in Test matches is simply mind-boggling – 723 wickets in 118 Tests at an economy rate of 2.40. These statistics clearly indicate that Murali has been a key player in Sri Lankan team ever since his entry into the world of cricket
Time and again, the administrators of cricket have pounced on him with claims that his action was weird, and that he threw the ball. Muttiah Muralitharan has been subjected to numerous biomechanical tests to prove himself. Being an honest and dignified cricketer, he took all these issues in his stride and went ahead to prove his greatness through his bowling.
Many of Muttiah Muralitharan’s supporters have often criticized the International Cricket Council and its patriarchs for being prejudiced against him, because he was from the Asian community. The variety of bowling styles in Murali’s repertoire is simply incomparable to any other bowler of the world. His off-breaks, top-spinners, doosra, and flippers have zapped even the best of batsmen.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007
key player in Sri Lankan team
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