Murali limits horizons - Back to Article Index

Muttiah Muralitharan says he will eventually follow Shane Warne's lead and retire from one-day cricket to concentrate on Tests.

The Sri Lankan off-spinner told Australian newspaper The Age: "I only ever get injured playing one-day cricket, never Tests.

"I'm only 30 now, but I think in maybe one or two years after the World Cup I will do the same thing as Warnie."

The Australian leg-spinner announced on Wednesday he would retire from one-day internationals after the World Cup, which starts next month.

Muralitharan is the third-leading wicket-taker in Tests (437) and one-day internationals (304).

At 33, Warne is second on the list in Tests, 28 behind retired West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh's 519.

He is the sixth-leading wicket-taker in the limited overs game with 288.

Warne, who dislocated his shoulder in a one-day match against England last month, said one-day games took a far greater toll on his body than Tests.

Muralitharan has now left Australia with his team-mates, and said he may have played his last tour Down Under.

"I will speak to my parents and some former Sri Lankan captains about it," he said.

"It depends how I feel, but I think this is probably my last time (touring Australia).

"I hope to put that (no Australia tours clause) in my next contract, and then that would be it."

Muralitharan was no-balled for throwing during the 1995-96 and 1998-99 tours of Australia.

But his unusual bent-arm action has since been cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

He was upset by Australia supporters calling him a "chucker" during this month's VB Series of one-day internationals.

Source BBC Online

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