Gooch mulling over selector job

Gooch mulling over selector job

Gooch is England's all-time leading Test match run scorer

Former England captain Graham Gooch is considering applying for the position of English cricket's national selector.

David Graveney is currently chairman of selectors but the role is set to be rebranded as national selector and will become a full-time post.

Graveney has said he will apply for the job, while 54-year-old Gooch told BBC Sport the role was "attractive" but he needed clarification on certain issues.

"I am considering the position," said Gooch, a former England selector.

"The job is an attractive one in as much as if you're keen on helping English cricket and have been involved in the game, as I have down the last three decades, it's the sort of job that would interest you.

"But there are a number of unknowns that I would need to get clarified before I, maybe, would put my hat in the ring."

Gooch had a prestigious playing career with Essex and England and became Essex coach in 2001 before stepping down in 2005.

He is now the squad's batting coach and also works as BBC Five Live's expert summariser on England matches.

606: DEBATE Is Gooch the right man for the job of national selector?

The national selector position was created on the advice of the Schofield report, which looked into the state of English cricket following last year's Ashes whitewash and the subsequent failure in the World Cup.

It is proposed the national selector would travel with the England team, therefore ending the policy of captain and coach selecting the final XI on tour.

England team managing director Hugh Morris revealed the closing date for applications was 17 December and a shortlist of candidates would be interviewed early in the New Year.

Morris explained that candidates would have to have played first-class cricket but that Test match experience was "desirable rather than essential".

The national selector would not be expected to travel with the England team for an entire tour, but Morris believes it is important that the selector be with the team during warm-up matches and for the first Test.

Asked why Graveney had not been given the job, Morris, the former Glamorgan batsman, said: "The rationale for that is that the role is slightly different.

"It has gone from part-time to full-time and there are some additional responsibilities and, as happens a lot in business, when a role does change it is open to recruitment.

"We are looking for the best person - it is as simple as that. It is a highly important job and we want the very best person. We are eagerly anticipating a very strong list of people applying."

Sri Lanka v England 2nd Test - Mahela Speaks after 3rd day

Sri Lanka v England 2nd Test - Mahela Speaks after 3rd day

Broad has yet to take a wicket despite bowling 25 overs

England coach Peter Moores admitted his team faced an uphill struggle after Sri Lanka closed day three of the second Test 28 runs ahead on 379-4.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene hit a superb unbeaten 167 as England toiled hard for just two wickets.

"There's been no lack of effort. We're disappointed not to take wickets but we kept them to under three runs an over.

"The game's still on but we've got to take two wickets early and keep their lead to a minimum," said Moores.

England, who need to draw the match to stay in the series, face the prospect of a large first-innings deficit as well as the threat of Muttiah Muralitharan's spin in their second innings.

Their chances will be boosted if they can remove Jayawardene early on Wednesday.

Jayawardene, supported by fellow centurion Michael Vandort, played magnificently on Tuesday to become the first Sri Lankan batsman to pass 7,000 Test runs.

Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Harmison were the only successful bowlers on a tough day for the tourists.

Harmison, playing his first Test since June after overcoming various injuries, got scant reward for his industry but did pick up the wicket of Chamara Silva in the last over before stumps.

"I'm glad he got a wicket at the end of the day," Moores said of the Durham fast bowler.

"He will bowl a lot worse than that and get wickets. I thought Jayawardene played him very well."

Jayawardene, who overtook the recently retired Sanath Jayasuriya as Sri Lanka's leading Test run-scorer, said: "I am very honoured to go above Sanath but every day you try to improve - that is what Test cricket is all about."

He also said he expected the wicket to deteriorate.

"If we can just try to bat for a couple more sessions and put 150 or 200 extra on the board we can give Murali something to play with.

"England will have to bat really well," said the 30-year-old.

Sri Lanka v England 2nd Test - 3rd Day

Sri Lanka v England 2nd Test - 3rd Day

Second Test, SSC Colombo: (day three, close)
Sri Lanka 379-4 v England 351

By Jamie Lillywhite

Jayawardene celebrates reaching his century on the third day

Mahela Jayawardene became the first Sri Lankan to score 7,000 Test runs as his team closed day three of the second Test 28 runs ahead of England on 379-4.

Sri Lanka began on 105-2 but skipper Jayawardene shared 227 in 71 overs with Michael Vandort, who thwarted England with a battling fourth Test century.

Vandort finally fell to Ryan Sidebottom with the second new ball after lunch.

Jayawardene remained on 167 and added 128 in 44 overs with Chamara Silva who fell late on to Steve Harmison for 49.

England, who are 1-0 down in the best-of-three series, resumed with justifiable hopes of taking a first-innings lead, having dismissed the world's number one ranked batsman Kumar Sangakkara on day two.

However, the bowling attack looked short of penetration on a benign pitch and Jayawardene was in control for the vast majority of a commanding innings on his home ground.

The 30-year-old charged past Sanath Jayasuriya's career tally of 6,974 to become the most prolific Sri Lankan batsman in Test history.

He had scored 501 runs in his two most recent innings at the Sinhalese Sports Club, and duly added another record to his collection when he surpassed Graham Gooch's total of 2,015 at Lord's to become the highest individual scorer at any one Test ground.

England initially tried to target Vandort with short deliveries, Harmison trying to get the left-hander to fend to short-leg, but the placid pitch gave the batsman too much time to adjust.

Stuart Broad replaced the persevering but luckless Sidebottom after half an hour.

The debutant bowled from the end governed by Aleem Dar, the official who on Monday warned him twice for running too close to the stumps on his follow-through, but bowled only one over before he was replaced by Monty Panesar.

The spinner's opening delivery was beautifully flighted and spun extravagantly past the bat on off-stump before being taken by slip, but too often he fired down short of a length and failed to trouble the batsmen.

Kevin Pietersen was introduced in his dark sunglasses to bowl his under-used off-spin shortly before lunch and although inconsistent, he looked the most likely to take a wicket, producing the ball of the morning with one that pitched on middle stump and zipped sharply past Vandort's bat above off.

Pietersen continued after lunch and found more sharp spin to force an edge from Vandort but again the edge dropped short of Collingwood at slip.

The England attack put in plenty of effort but enjoyed little success

While the compact, correct Jayawardene barely played a false stroke, Vandort, the rangy left-hander, enjoyed moments of good fortune with controlled edges through the slips, although he too appeared to be booked in for the day.

England captain Michael Vaughan took the new ball immediately it became available and Sidebottom struck in the first over with it.

Much-maligned umpire Daryl Harper correctly adjudged that the ball had moved back in sufficiently to trap Vandort on leg-stump for 138.

The wicket revived flagging morale, particularly as it brought to the crease Silva, the man who had incensed England by claiming a catch to dismiss Pietersen when replays showed it had been grassed, and he was subjected to some choice remarks from the tourists.

Even with the aid of the shiny new cherry the chances failed to carry.

Jayawardene, having made his century, edged Broad, handed the ball ahead of Harmison who seemed to be experiencing injury niggles, but the ball dipped in front of Collingwood at second slip.

After tea Panesar resorted to his own form of bodyline by bowling into the rough outside leg-stump to the right-handers from around the wicket, and the ball regularly spat out of the rough up to chest height.

But it was more Harold Lloyd than Harold Larwood in terms of danger to the batsmen and Jayawardene merely continued to put together another sizeable partnership.

Panesar did manage to tempt Jayawardene to give a catch that found English hands, but it was those of a spectator in the stand beyond long-off and the captain's six took him to 150 in fine style.

Harmison returned for a final burst and found some lift to dislodge Silva, who fended to point, but another dominant Sri Lankan centurion ensured that the Durham paceman would be unlikely to be bowling for a victory in the second innings.

Sri Lanka v England 2nd Test - 2nd Day

Sri Lanka v England 2nd Test - 2nd Day

Dilhara Fernando glances at Prior as the England man reaches 50

England's batting hero Matt Prior said the team's bowlers would be looking for reverse swing to gain an advantage over Sri Lanka on day three in Colombo.

The second Test was well poised with Sri Lanka on 105-2 in reply to England's 351, in which Prior hit 79.

And the wicket-keeper said: "We've got to get this ball doing something.

"We saw a bit of reverse swing in Kandy and hopefully it might do something here. If we can get a few early wickets tomorrow this could be wide open."

Prior put on 74 with Ryan Sidebottom for the eighth wicket, and the two men later combined for each of the Sri Lanka wickets to fall.

"In pressure situations you've got to try to put the pressure back on the bowler so if you do get a bad ball, you try to put it away," added Prior.

"I thought we applied ourselves very well, and Ryan did brilliantly.

"He really gets up for it and it's fantastic to see a bowler who puts a lot of time into his batting, getting their rewards.

"We've said all along on this trip we've got 11 batters and you've got to trust your mate at the other end.

"It's been good, I've enjoyed batting in pressure situations and facing some of these bowlers.

"The hard work continues, I want to keep hopefully putting in some good performances."

Sidebottom said: "I've been working hard in the nets - and having a batsman like Matt talking to me helped me concentrate.

"It's a bit disappointing we didn't get 400. But it's still a good score, and if we can make a few inroads tomorrow morning it should set up a good game."

Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss was satisfied his team were in a favourable position.

"England were 160-1 at one stage - if you take that into consideration we've done pretty well," said the Australian.

"The wicket is not as slow as the Kandy wicket was [in the first Test, which Sri Lanka won].

"It will take a bit of turn, apparently on days four and five."

Sangakkara heads world rankings

Sangakkara heads world rankings

Sangakkara's knock of 152 against England put him in the record books

Kumar Sangakkara has become the first Sri Lankan to top the Test batting rankings after inspiring them to victory over England in the Kandy Test.

He has unseated Ricky Ponting from the top of the list after scores of 92 and 152 - and is the first man to score 150 plus in four successive Tests.

The 30-year-old is now also joint sixth in the all-time batting rankings.

And to complete a Sri Lankan double, world record wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan tops the bowling rankings.

Kevin Pietersen remains the highest ranked England batsman, retaining sixth place despite making 31 and 18 in Kandy.

The only other English players in the top 20 are Ian Bell (15th) and Paul Collingwood (17th).

Matthew Hoggard, who took six wickets in the match before suffering a back injury, is the highest-ranked England bowler, in fifth place.

Sri Lanka v England 2nd Test

Sri Lanka v England 2nd Test

England captain Michael Vaughan believes Kevin Pietersen's dismissal on day one of the second Test should have been referred to the television umpire.

Umpires Aleem Dar and Daryl Harper gave Pietersen caught for one in a slip cordon ricochet, although replays suggested the ball was grounded.

They did not ask for a TV replay and Vaughan told BBC Sport: "I honestly think that common sense has to prevail.

"You've got the technology, let's use it," he added.

"There's no way you can be 100% sure the ball carried.

"Common sense should have prevailed, and I'm sure the umpires will feel exactly that way now.

"It has cost us a wicket, but 258 is still a lot of runs on a first-day wicket."

England ended the day on 258-5 against Sri Lanka in Colombo after their bright start was derailed by the controversy - and two wickets in two balls for Lasith Malinga.

Pietersen edged a drive at Chaminda Vaas and watched as Chamara Silva scooped up the ball narrowly above the turf.

It squeezed out of Silva's fingers after a juggle and was seized by the alert Kumar Sangakkara, fielding at first slip, to spark huge Sri Lankan celebrations.

Harper consulted with Dar but they did not deem it necessary to call for the third umpire and Pietersen was given out.

Pietersen started to walk but stopped after England fans booed the decision when the replay was shown on the large screen.

He was told to leave the field for a second time by Australian umpire Harper and vented his anger back in the pavilion.

It was later confirmed Pietersen would not face censure for the hesitation, but match referee Jeff Crowe did admit the referral rule may have to be changed.

"Maybe we have to look at how it's written, that's pretty much what I'd be saying to the ICC," he said.

"The umpires always try to run by the letter of the law - how it's written down. So that's why they are sometimes reluctant to refer it up because it is obvious to everyone their sight wasn't obscured."

Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss said Silva was convinced the catch had been taken cleanly.

"It was one of those ones that, if referred to the TV umpire, would be not out because on television when you get so close to the ground you can't tell," he said.

Bayliss was pleased with the way Sri Lanka came back into the game in the final session.

"To come back the way we did to slow them down in the second session and then to take four in the last session was a good effort," he said.

"It was like in Kandy where they showed some character to come back into the game.

"It is evenly poised at the moment - I am sure England will be looking at 400 and we would like to keep them under 350."

Vaughan confirmed that England would look towards getting 400 on day two.

"We have got five guys who can get us to 400 and beyond and put them under a lot of pressure.

"Apart from Sangakkara and Jayawardene, they have an inexperienced batting line-up, so if we get a good score we can put them under pressure."

Vaughan himself was frustrated he did not reach a century, after short-leg fielder Jehan Mubarak caught the ball between his legs, when the captain was on 87.

"I get out in peculiar ways. I'm disappointed I didn't go on and get a big hundred," he added.

Eng. VS Sri Lanka, Second Test, SSC Colombo:

Sri Lanka v England 2nd TestSecond Test, SSC Colombo: (day one, close)
England 258-5 v Sri Lanka

By Jamie Lillywhite

Malinga's late burst brought Sri Lanka back into the match

Lasith Malinga struck twice in two deliveries with the second new ball as England closed day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka on 258-5.

Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook put on 133 in 39 overs, an England record for the first wicket against Sri Lanka.

Vaughan hit 12 fours in a fluent 87 but wickets fell in consecutive overs, Kevin Pietersen given out caught when the ball seemed to have been grounded.

Cook made a battling 81 from 234 balls before he was unfortunate to fall lbw.

Seeking to level the series following the disappointing final day slide in Kandy, Vaughan displayed a positive intent from the moment he chose to bat on an excellent looking batting surface in hot, humid conditions.

Counterpart Mahela Jayawardene suggested he was not too unhappy to bowl first, but neither the wily Chaminda Vaas nor the erratic Malinga was able to make an early breakthrough as England's openers ensured their team made the most of winning the toss.

After 10 overs he brought on Dilhara Fernando and, in a double change, Muttiah Muralitharan, who had taken 143 wickets in 21 previous Tests at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground - a record for an individual at any one venue - was introduced in the next over.

He began around the wicket to the right-handed Vaughan, but found surprisingly little turn in an initial four-over spell and a change of ends did nothing to improve matters as Cook hit him for two fours in the first over of his second burst.

Cook showed great resolve before falling to a debatable lbw decision

Fernando served up several loose deliveries which were exquisitely dispatched by Vaughan, but highlighted the extra bounce in the surface compared to the previous match in Kandy.

He then found the edge of Cook's bat and the ball flew at a perfect catching height, but bisected first and second slip and Jayawardene, diving to his right at second merely succeeded in distracting Kumar Sangakkara who appeared to be poised to take the chance.

Vaughan had seen plenty of the world's current number one Kumar Sangakkara in the first Test and played in similarly textbook fashion with an impeccably straight bat, while his cross-bat strokes were assured and played with precision.

The captain reached his 16th Test fifty from 75 balls when he hooked Fernando for his fifth boundary - by contrast Cook made 21 from 68 balls before lunch and when England's first century opening stand for 15 Tests was recorded from 194 deliveries his contribution was only 23.

Sri Lanka needed something out of the ordinary to produce a wicket and it duly arrived as Vaughan clipped Murali firmly off his pads and the ball wedged somewhere in the person of Jehan Mubarak at short-leg.

Cook began to find more rhythm in the afternoon session but Vaughan's dismissal, coupled with Murali extracting more turn as the pitch dried, slowed the scoring.

England were content to quietly consolidate but lost quick wickets after tea as the Sri Lankans tightened their lines.

Vaughan showed signs of his best form to give England a fine start

Ian Bell, who made fluent half centuries in both innings in Kandy, looked strangely hesitant and was superbly caught by Mubarak, far more aware of the ball's location this time as he flew to his right at short-leg.

The first major talking point involved Pietersen, who edged Vaas to second slip, where Chamara Silva dived to his left but appeared to touch the turf with the ball before flicking it up for Sangakkara to scoop it diving to his right.

Umpire Daryl Harper sought assurance from colleague Aleem Dar and felt sufficiently confident to send Pietersen back to the pavilion without a call to the third official, reviewing the events with the aid of slow motion replays.

Pietersen watched the incident on the big screen but the decision had been made and he was left to vent his anger on his return to the dressing room.

Paul Collingwood provided a calming influence, and advanced down the wicket to launch Murali for four as the fifty stand with Cook was recorded from 98 balls, but umpire Harper was soon back in the spotlight again.

Malinga found immediate life with the new ball but his full length delivery to Cook pitched outside leg stump and was moving further away only for the dreaded finger to be raised.

There was no doubt about the next ball as Ravi Bopara was emphatically yorked, leaving England with work to do to post a strong total for a revamped attack featuring debutant Stuart Broad and recalled Steve Harmison to bowl at.

Strauss hopes for England return

Strauss hopes for England return

Strauss hopes to rediscover his form in New Zealand

Andrew Strauss has targeted a return to Test cricket after signing a short-term deal with New Zealand club side Northern Knights.

Strauss, 30, has suffered a dip in form over the past year and was dropped for England's current tour of Sri Lanka.

But Strauss hopes the move will help him regain his Test place for England's tour of New Zealand in February.

"I am very focused on getting selected for this tour and winning my place back," said Strauss.

"I am really excited about the possibility of playing cricket in New Zealand ahead of England's tour there in the new year."

The Middlesex left-hander is to feature in the Northern Knights' State Shield and Twenty20 competitions in January and February.

Northern Knights confirmed the deal on Friday, with coach Andy Moles saying: "As well as his outstanding playing record, Andrew will bring his experience of Test match cricket which will be a great opportunity for our younger crop of players coming through."

Strauss is positive the move will help him win back his Test place.

"I have been really impressed by the professionalism and ambition of Northern Districts and I feel that this is a golden opportunity for me to score some runs ahead of England's tour," he added.

Strauss made a flying start to his Test career with five centuries in his first 11 games but he had a torrid time during the Ashes series in Australia and his plight continued at the World Cup in the Caribbean earlier this year.

But despite having averaged only 27 in Test cricket in the last year, without making a century, Strauss was handed a central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board in September.

And with New Zealand's grassier pitches and seam-oriented bowling expected to better suit Strauss than the slow surfaces in Sri Lanka, the Middlesex opener is expected to return to the England set-up.

England play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international in February and March.

Sanga toast of Sri Lanka

Sanga toast of Sri Lanka

Lakbima News
Kumar Sangakkara joined spin-king Muttiah Muralitharan on top of ICC rankings when he knocked off Australia’s Ricky Ponting following a dazzling run feast in the 2007 season. Sangakkara has scored 938 points, two points ahead of Pointing, who was dominating the batting rankings for a while.
Though his first innings brought him just 6 runs, Sangakkara made a remarkable come back since then scoring 200*, 222*, 57, 192, 92, and 152. The first two double tons though came against a relatively meager bowling attack, Bangladesh, his 57 and that magnificent 192 against mighty Aussies at Hobart is a proof of his excellent form which he continued at Asgiriya against England.
After being denied a deserving century in the first innings (92) Sangakkara continued his tremendous run form hammering a match winning 152. In the process he became the only cricketer in the annals of world cricket history to score 150 or more runs in four consecutive matches.
His 921 runs in seven innings came with an outstanding average of 184.20, one of the best averages in world cricket during a season. He also became one who has scored a century against all nine Test playing countries.
World record-breaking spinner Muttiah Muralitharan already tops the Test bowling rankings with 910 points.
The graphic that appears below shows how Sangakkara has progressed since he made his international debut in 2000.

Murali - emblem of unruffled courage

Murali - emblem of unruffled courage

By Champika Fernando

http://www.lakbimanews.lk

Muttiah Muralitharan entered his name into the great filing cabinet of history as a hero of unruffled courage and perseverance, a victim of injustices and bias, than a villain whose dark deeds tainted his otherwise greatness.
But even then a great ambiguity surrounds his career as some paint him a sinner while others hail him a saint of the modern game.
However the arguments over Muttaih Muralitharan and his bowling action are never-ending as they are alive with bias and conceptual conclusions reached by men suffering from attention deficiency, despite being cleared by the sports governing body, ICC, after years of medical examination.
The beauty of his illustrious career may have been somewhat overshadowed by the controversy surrounding his bowling action, but to put him in the company of those of Marion Jones, a drug cheat, Hansie Cronje and Mohamed Azharuddine, match-fixing cheats, and of course, the Australian spin legend Shane Warne, a doping accused, may be bigotry.
He is no drug cheat like Marion Jones, no criminal like Mike Tyson, no match-fixer like Hansie Cronje and no has he used any unfair means to succeed in the field he has chosen.
Yet he is the centre of attraction whenever he bowls, cameras focused at his arm, commentators watchful of his action, umpires eager to no ball and of course the spectators to utter a word to defame. Such is the psychological pressure put on by men who were eager to see the fall of this man.

Stood firm

A smiling assassin, as one would call him, Muttiah Muralitharan stood firm during the times of trial and tribulations and proved that he is a man of grace than a man of disgrace, a hero than a villain and most importantly a civilized one than those uncivilized individuals who cast stones at him.
Murali faced adversity psychologically more than physically. His detractors more frequently bully him calling him a ‘chucker’ or ‘cheat’ but evidence is in abundance that he isn’t either, as the University of Western Australia through biomechanical evidence, after thorough examination, accepted the legality of his action. But still there are some who question his action.
The controversy though began even before the famous ‘no ball’ incident Down Under when the controversial umpire Darrel Hair no balled Murali seven times in the Boxing Day Test.
Murali received the same treatment at the ODI series that followed and it appeared that the career of Muttaih Muralitharan was under tremendous pressure.
However, the ICC then came to the defense of Muralitharan who concluded after extensive testing that his ‘throwing’ was an illusion caused by a genetic deformity in his arm.
After three years into Sri Lanka’s World Cup triumph in the 1996, Murali again became the subject of discussion during the 1998-99 series in Australia.
Muralitharan’s doosra was termed ‘suspicious’ in an official report by match referee Chris Broad during Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2004.
In November 2004, the International Cricket Council conducted more research into illegal bowling actions and found that many bowlers whose actions were considered legitimate were actually transgressing the rules.
Thus the International Cricket Council in 2004 extended the legal limit of arm-bend for all bowlers to a uniform 15 degree after a detailed study found that all bowlers do have some form of bent-arm.
In February 2006, in an attempt to silence the Australian crowds and their ‘no ball’ chants, Muralitharan took another test at the University of Western Australia, which saw all of his deliveries deemed legal, including the doosra.

The difference

Murali has been the heart and soul of Sri Lanka cricket ever since he made his international debut in 1992 against Australia at home just like Sanath Jayasuriya, the greatest-ever all-rounder Sri Lanka has ever produced to date.
It may not be appropriate to say that he is the backbone of the Sri Lankan side, but he has often been the difference between a good team and a very good team.
Ever since Shane Warne announced his retirement from international cricket, it has been a one horse race for the 35-year-old Kandy born Sri Lankan who was counting his days to reach the record mark. Murali has finally set the world record, a record which will presumably stand for another few decades until we find a genuine bowler of Murali’s grace or Shane Warne’s mastermind steps in.
But the reality is that, none of the leading bowlers at present are even closer to this greatness. So Murali will remain immortal for many decades even after he retires from international cricket.
For now, there’s no sign that the world’s leading spinner calling it a day in the near future and 1000 wickets are a possibility if he plays for another three years or so.
But the ambiguity on Muralitharan and his bowling action will haunt him forever, as long as men of ignorance and arrogance exist.

- Murali Milestones -

Muttiah Muralitharan is now Test cricket’s greatest wicket-taker. We check out the landmarks on his way to overtaking Shane Warne’s record.

1st wicket
Opposition: Australia
Venue and Date: Colombo, August 1992
Victim: Craig McDermott
How out: lbw

50th wicket
Opposition: India
Venue and Date: Ahmedabad, February 1994
Victim: Navjot Sidhu
How out: caught

100th wicket
Opposition: New Zealand
Venue and Date: Hamilton, March 1997
Victim: Stephen Fleming
How out: lbw

150th wicket
Opposition: Zimbabwe
Venue and Date: Colombo, January 1998
Victim: Guy Whittal
How out: caught

200th wicket
Opposition: England
Venue and Date: Kennington, August 1998
Victim: Ben Hollioake
How out: lbw

250th wicket
Opposition: Pakistan
Venue and Date: Karachi, March 2000
Victim: Naved Ashraf
How out: lbw

300th wicket
Opposition: South Africa
Venue and Date: Durban, September 2000
Victim: Shaun Pollock
How out: caught

350th wicket
Opposition: Bangladesh
Venue and Date: Colombo, September 2001
Victim: Mohammad Sharif
How out: caught
400th wicket
Opposition: Zimbabwe
Venue and Date: Galle, January 2002
Victim: Henry Olonga
How out: bowled

450th wicket
Opposition: New Zealand
Venue and Date: Kandy, May 2003
Victim: Daryl Tuffey
How out: caught

500th wicket
Opposition: Australia
Venue and Date: Kandy, March 2004
Victim: Michael Kasprowicz
How out: bowled

550th wicket
Opposition: Bangladesh
Venue and Date: Colombo, September 2005
Victim: Khaled Mashud
How out: caught

600th wicket
Opposition: Bangladesh
Venue and Date: Bogra, March 2006
Victim: Khaled Mashud
How out: caught

650th wicket
Opposition: South Africa
Venue and Date: Colombo, August 2006
Victim: Makhaya Ntini
How out: caught

700th wicket
Opposition: Bangladesh
Venue and Date: Kandy, July 2007
Victim: Syed Rasel
How out: caught

708th wicket
Opposition: England
Venue and Date: Kandy, December 2007
Victim: Ravi Bopara
How out: caught

709th wicket
Opposition: England
Venue and Date: Kandy, December 2007
Victim: Paul Collingwood
How out: bowled

Magic Murali as tricky as ever

By Kumar Sangakkara

The people of Kandy, his hill country home town, love Muttiah Muralitharan as one of their own. I still remember the thousands that spilled onto the street to celebrate his return from the Oval in 1998 where he ran amok with an incredible 16 wickets in the match.
I was 13 when I first met him. I am also from Kandy but played for a rival school - Murali played for St Antony’s College while I was at Trinity College. Although some might have felt I was being treacherous, I used to attend private cricket classes with coach Sunil Fernando and some of the kids from St Antony’s. One day, Fernando pulled Murali into my cement net. I was astonished by the prodigious turn he was getting from such an unresponsive surface. Afterwards, although five years my senior, he was chatty and friendly - a boy that crackled with enthusiasm for the game.
He was already a schoolboy star and I remember my brother’s preparation for the annual derby against St Antony’s. Like this week, all the talk was about Murali and how to combat that unique, prodigious turn. Our curator back then, Alex Lazarum, pledged he’d prepare a pitch that even Murali could not turn the ball on. But, of course, his off-breaks turned outrageously. The players turned on Lazarum at the close. “I made a track that turns so much he would not be able to bowl anyone or get lbws,” he mumbled defensively.
After that Murali was whisked away to Colombo and very quickly into the national team. We bumped into each other occasionally but most of the time I watched him on television. I can still remember my teenage anger and outrage at the way he was treated in Australia during that Boxing Day Test match. For me, and many others, it was nothing less than a national insult. I followed his progress intimately and rejoiced at his performance against England in 1998.
I never dreamed that one day I’d be keeping wicket to him in international cricket. The only advantage you have is the knowledge that the off-break will turn a lot. Nevertheless you can still be taken by surprise and I’ve found it necessary to move earlier than you would normally because you have to move so far to collect the ball.
And, of course, you then have to read him. This took me over a year and that’s despite him helping me all the time. There are two doosras: the first like a top-spinner that kicks on straight and bounces; the second that spins sharply to leg. He bowls variations of both with a scrambled and unscrambled seam. Then there is the newer flipper, his version of the slider that comes from the front of the hand, has no spin and floats on straight - he trapped Kevin Pietersen with that at Edgbaston in 2006.
Comparisons are naturally made between Shane Warne and Murali. But these are very difficult to make. Murali, without the back-up that has helped Warne, is perhaps more direct, attacking the stumps for wickets, while Warne was traditionally more subtle, using different ploys to ensnare batsman. Warne seems to be considered the shrewder operator but I am not all convinced by that. I know that Murali has an instinctive feel for different situations and how to bowl at particular batsmen. Personally, I think Murali has been a significantly more dangerous bowler for all but Warne’s glory years in the mid-1990s.
The great thing, though, about this man is that he is not only one of the most skilful bowlers that has ever graced the game but also the greatest human being I have ever had the privilege of knowing. He is simple, down-to-earth, polite, honest and a great humanitarian. His father may have been the inspiration for this, investing an enormous amount of time improving conditions in Kandy prison, but Murali has gone well beyond the call of duty with his own charity, the Foundation of Goodness.
He is the most loved guy in the dressing room. All the young guys adore him because he makes a special effort to make them feel welcome. He takes them for dinner and he talks cricket with them for hours. And in the dressing room he keeps us in stitches. I have met no greater chatterbox. On one particularly noisy bus journey to Kandy we challenged him to stay silent - he lasted no longer than 10 seconds before kicking back into life. Fortunately, for Sri Lanka, this energy and enthusiasm is still there. Remarkably, despite more than 100 Tests and 700 wickets, he is still racked by nerves in the lead-up to a Test match. He struggles to eat, gets queasy and is hypersensitive. He’ll usually be found in the toilets prior to the start of the game.
The routine is the same today as it was 15 years ago and it shows that he has not gone stale.
Telegraph.co.uk

‘Sir, I’m no cheat’

Murali’s school coach Sunil Fernando talks about his world conquering pupil

By Ranjan Paranavithana

Sunil Fernando was the cricket coach of St. Anthony’s College, Kandy from 1973 to 1996. He is credited for grooming spinners like Muttiah Muralitharan, Ruwan Kalpage and Piyal Wijetunga who went on to represent Sri Lanka. Kumar Sangakkara, although a Trinitian, too had come under Fernando’s wings at his private cricket coaching school.
Following are the excerpts of an interview LAKBIMAnEWS had with Fernando after Muralitharan claimed the world record for the highest number of Test wickets.

Q: Murali has started his cricket as a medium pace bowler. Tell us more about it.

A: When I was the coach of St. Anthony’s I used to watch children play tennis ball cricket at the college ground. Once I saw a small player (Muralitharan) bowling fast. I realised that he had something special and asked him if he liked to play leather ball cricket. He said he would first ask his mother, but he didn’t come back. Sometime later Murali’s mother brought him to my cricket school. He first started as a paceman. When he was playing for St. Anthony’s Under 15 team I thought considering his build he would have a good future as a spinner. So I asked him to bowl off-cutters, which he accepted readily. In his first match, which we played against Maliyadeva, he took five wickets.

Q: There has been a huge hue and cry about his action. Was it same during his school days?
A: Those days nobody questioned his action. Even when he first played for Sri Lanka no one had a problem. He soon developed into a formidable spinner and clamours rose against him. The Australians used them to undermine him.

Q: How did Murali cope with all that?

A: I can still remember how he told me ‘sir, I’m no cheat. I don’t willingly bowl that way’. Even today he phones me if he has any problem about bowling. He has not forgotten his beginnings.

Q: Why don’t you groom another spinner like Murali?

A: We can’t create somebody like him. Like Sanath, he too is a unique cricketer. But we should prepare spinners to take his place in the team.

Q: But we don’t see that many spinners coming out of the system?

A: There are many talented spinners in our country. We should not try to change them. I’m not blaming our coaches. But because of today’s way of competition they have made spinners bowlers who always look to stop the flow of runs. They are in a way restricted to that role only.
When we play matches in Sri Lanka, I think we should field another spinner alongside Murali. If not, another spinner will not get a chance to develop himself.