Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan was born on 17 April 1972 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, into a family of Tamil origin. He was educated at St. Anthony's College, Kandy, where he developed his cricket skills. His unorthodox bowling action, which involved a hyperextended elbow, was initially controversial but was cleared by biomechanical testing in 1996.¹

He made his Test debut in 1992 against Australia, and his ODI debut the following year. His early career was marked by his ability to extract turn and bounce from any surface, making him a formidable bowler in both formats.

Muralitharan's career is defined by his record-breaking wicket tallies. He surpassed Courtney Walsh's world record of 519 Test wickets in 2007, and went on to finish with 800 wickets in 2008, a record that still stands. He also took 534 ODI wickets, the most in that format, and was part of the Sri Lankan team that won the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

His 67 five-wicket hauls in Tests is another record, and he took 10 wickets in a match on 22 occasions. He was named the ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2006 and was Wisden's Leading Cricketer in the World in 2000 and 2006.

Muralitharan's bowling action was a subject of controversy throughout his career. In 1995, he was no-balled for throwing by umpire Darrell Hair during a Test match in Australia. Subsequent biomechanical studies showed that his elbow had a congenital hyperextension, which made his action appear illegal but was within the allowed limits.²

Despite the controversy, he continued to play and was eventually accepted as a legitimate bowler. He also faced challenges with injuries, but his resilience and determination allowed him to maintain a long and successful career.

After retiring from international cricket in 2010, Muralitharan remained involved in the sport as a coach and mentor. He served as a bowling coach for various teams, including the Sri Lankan national team and the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.

He has also been involved in charitable work, particularly in war-torn areas of Sri Lanka. His legacy is not only as a record-holder but also as a pioneer who proved that unconventional actions could be effective and legal in cricket.

Beyond his on-field records, Muralitharan has several lesser-known facets. He is one of the few cricketers to have taken a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket, dismissing Craig McDermott in 1992. He also holds the record for the most wickets in a single World Cup, with 23 in 2007.

Muralitharan was known for his 'doosra', a delivery that spins the other way, which he developed later in his career. He also took a hat-trick in a Test match against South Africa in 2004. Off the field, he has been a member of the Sri Lankan parliament, serving as a national list MP from 2015 to 2017.

Off-spin

A type of bowling in cricket where the ball spins from the off side to the leg side for a right-handed batsman.

Doosra

A delivery bowled by an off-spinner that spins the opposite way, from leg to off.

Five-wicket haul

When a bowler takes five or more wickets in a single innings.