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: 1992-2008); ICC World XI (Test: 2005/06); Sri Lanka (ODI: 1993-2008); 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: முத்தையா முரளிதரன்

Sri Lanka reach Asia Cup final after crushing win

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

List of all articles

Pictures: Muttiah Muralitharan reacts

Muralitharan celebrates the catch of Younis Khan

Portrait of Muttiah Muralitharan in 2007

Muttiah Muralitharan appeals for lbw

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.
Profile DateLine: 20th February 2007 by CricketArchive

Test Career Batting and Fielding (1992-2008)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct
Sri Lanka	122	152	52	1154	67	11.54	0	1	69.14	67
ICC World XI	1	2	0	2	2	1.00	0	0	28.57	2
Overall	123	154	52	1156	67	11.33	0	1	68.97	69

Test Career Bowling (1992-2008)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	5wI	10wM	SRate	Econ
Sri Lanka	40676	1709	16447	751	9-51	21.90	65	21	54.16	2.42
ICC World XI	324	8	157	5	3-55	31.40	0	0	64.80	2.90
Overall	41000	1717	16604	756	9-51	21.96	65	21	54.23	2.42

First-Class Career Batting and Fielding (1990-2008)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct
Overall	222	266	79	2087	67	11.16	0	1	120

First-Class Career Bowling (1990-2008)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	5wI	10wM	SRate	Econ
Overall	63894	2826	25421	1330	9-51	19.11	117	33	48.04	2.38

One-Day International Career Batting and Fielding (1993-2008)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct
Sri Lanka	307	144	54	542	27	6.02	0	0	69.57	121
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	314	145	54	542	27	5.95	0	0	69.39	123

One-Day International Career Bowling (1993-2008)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	4wI	5wI	SRate	Econ
Sri Lanka	16670	182	10770	468	7-30	23.01	13	9	35.61	3.87
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	17048	185	11030	479	7-30	23.02	13	9	35.59	3.88

One-Day Career Batting and Fielding (1991/92-2008)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct
Overall	400	181	66	748	27	6.50	0	0	145

One-Day Career Bowling (1991/92-2008)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	4wI	5wI	SRate	Econ
Overall	21214	289	13471	603	7-30	22.33	15	11	35.65	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	23	3	1	16	9	8.00	0	0	123.07	6

Twenty20 Career Bowling (2005-2007/08)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	4wI	5wI	SRate	Econ
Overall	522	1	560	28	4-18	20.00	2	0	18.64	6.43