Muttiah Muralitharan was one of the cricketers from Sri Lanka and is considered the greatest spin bowler in cricket history. He holds the solitary position for the most number of test wickets and maximum numbers of wickets taken in ODI.
Personal Information
| Full Name | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| Born | 17 April 1972 |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Nickname | Murali |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in |
| Bowling | Right-arm off break |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Role | Bowler |
Early Life and Family Background
Mutthiah Muralitharan was born on 17 April 1972 in Kandy, Sri Lanka. He was of a Tamil background and had a businessman father. Cricket is something that started way back when Muralitharan was a young man, and the house was full of encouragement for his aspirations of becoming a professional cricketer.
Muttiah Muralitharan is married to Madhimalar Ramamurthy. Madhimalar is the daughter of a relatively more influential Tamil family in Chennai, India. He married in the year 2005, and they have two children together.
Introduction to Cricket
He started his career playing cricket during his school days, in which his huge potential for spin bowling caught much attention. So he begins his full-fledged career when he represents St. Anthony’s College and mastered his bowling skills as one of the most popular young cricketers of Sri Lanka.
Early Cricket Career
From local matches, he emerged as one of the best players, and his action was unique because he could turn the ball both ways, which made him a bowler to watch out for; he soon caught the attention of selectors for Sri Lankan cricketing team.
Debut for the Sri Lankan National Team
In 1992, Muralitharan first played a Test match for Sri Lanka against Australia. He very quickly earned himself the position as a powerhouse in the spin bowling arena and soon found a place on the national side. Continued success with wickets kept Muralitharan in the headlines for Sri Lanka.
Unique Bowling Style
Muralitharan is renowned for his individualistic spin bowling action that helped him to produce a good variety of deliveries. Some of them were so fine that he produced that “Doosra” from nowhere. He was one of the most challenging bowlers to face, as his sharpness in spinning the ball both in the right and left directions was unbeatable.
Muralitharan’s Rise in International Cricket
Muralitharan became the most feared bowler in world cricket for most periods of the 1990s and 2000s. He allowed Sri Lanka to qualify with the best teams of the world because he could deliver wickets both in Test cricket and ODIs.
Breaking World Records
Muralitharan, the only player to have taken as many as 800 wickets in Test cricket and, along with 534 wickets, the most successful bowler in ODI cricket, accumulated those in his final Test match back in 2010.
Muttiah Muralitharan Stats
| Format | Test{1882-10} | ODI{1993-11} | T20I{2006-10} | IPL{2008-14} |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | 133 | 350 | 12 | 66 |
| Inn | 230 | 341 | 12 | 66 |
| Mdn | 1794 | 198 | 0 | 1 |
| Runs | 18180 | 12326 | 297 | 1696 |
| Wicket | 800 | 534 | 13 | 63 |
| BB | 9/51 | 7/30 | 3/29 | 3/11 |
| Econ | 2.47 | 3.93 | 6.31 | 6.67 |
| Avg | 22.7 | 23.1 | 22.8 | 26.9 |
Famous Matches and Achievements
Among the many memorable matches that he played, perfection was shown when 22 wickets were taken in the 2006 Test series against England. His persistent skill in securing victories for Sri Lanka, more specifically in untoward conditions, has fetched him a plethora of applauds.
Muttiah Muralitharan’s awards
Muttiah Muralitharan, the legendary Sri Lankan cricketer, has received numerous awards and honours throughout his career for his exceptional achievements in cricket.
- Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World (2000, 2006): The player was adjudged twice by Wisden as the world’s leading cricket player.
- ICC Player of the Year (2000): The International Cricket Council regarded him for his outstanding performances.
- ICC Hall of Fame Inductee (2017): He was regarded by the ICC for his incredible contributions to cricket.
- Most Test Wickets: He holds the record of having taken the most test wickets with 800 wickets.
- Most ODI Wickets: He holds the record for the most wickets in one-day internationals (534 wickets).
- Sri Lanka’s Highest Civilian Honors: He was awarded Deshamanya among other various civil honors for his service to Sri Lankan cricket.
- Man of the Match and Series Awards: Muralitharan earned Man of the Match awards several times and Man of the Series on more than one occasion during his career.
Controversies Surrounding Bowling Action
Muralitharan’s bowling action has always been questioned by the critics and termed that he is “throwing”. However, after scientific tests, the International Cricket Council (ICC) cleared his action, and he played without any restriction, stopping his critics.
Muralitharan’s Role in Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup Win
Muralitharan proved invaluable when Sri Lanka won the 1996 Cricket World Cup – their first ever to win the competition. He bowled plenty of overs with good control and a good economy rate, and his match-winning contributions elsewhere did not go unnoticed.
Retirement from International Cricket
Muttiah Muralitharan retired from international cricket in 2010 after a career of great success. His last Test match formed a fitting finale to a glittering career as he bowled his way to 800 wickets in the international game.
Muralitharan’s Post-Retirement Involvement in Cricket
Though he has retired, Muralitharan carries a cricket bat and is working as a coach and mentor to many teams. One such stalwart is working with the Sunrisers Hyderabad of the Indian Premier League (IPL) while grooming fresh talent, too.
Also read Kapil Dev Biography
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Muralitharan is a very unassuming player and very active philanthropist. He has also participated in many other charity works, like work with aid for reconstructing the devastated areas caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. All this has maximized his off-field contributions as well as his legacy.
Muttiah Muralitharan Movie
The movie on Muttiah Muralitharan is titled “800.” It is a biographical sports drama that is set to unravel the actual journey and incident-filled cricketing career of one of the greatest cricketers and spin bowlers of the world, Muralitharan, leading to his march to take 800 Test wickets. The film will critically look at the path of challenge at personal as well as professional levels from the unusual bowling style to becoming a legend.
Conclusion: Muralitharan’s Legacy in Cricket
The legend of Muttiah Muralitharan is indeed one that has no question. His record-breaking feats, his peculiarity in bowling style, and his contribution to Sri Lankan cricket make him a name way up there in international cricket. Generations will surely cherish his contributions.
FAQs
Is Muttiah Muralitharan Indian?
No, Muttiah Muralitharan is not Indian. He is a Sri Lankan cricketer of Tamil descent.
Who takes 800 wickets in a test?
Muttiah Muralitharan is the only cricketer to have taken 800 wickets in Test matches. He achieved this milestone during his career as a Sri Lankan spinner.
Is Muttiah Muralitharan fast bowler?
No, Muttiah Muralitharan is not a fast bowler. He is a spin bowler, known for his unique bowling style and exceptional ability to spin the ball.
Who will break Muralitharan record?
Today, no one is expected to break Muttiah Muralitharan’s record of 800 Test wickets, as nobody is anywhere near achieving that mark, although players such as James Anderson and Shane Warne have topped the test history tables of wicket-takers.
