Murali’s Magic to be continued …

Dec 03:  Muralitharan’s world record for most Test victims with 709 as he surpasses Australian Shane Warne

Muttiah Muralitharan scripted his name to the record book after claiming his 709 th wicket in a Test match against England declaring with his feisty hand that he is here to rule forever.

Murali’s celebrated moment came on Monday to become the most successful bowler, by taking Paul Collingwood’s wicket in Kandy that was his fifth wicket in the innings to break the record of Australian wizard leg spinner Shane Warne’s edge of holding 708 Test wickets.

But the feat is more special for Murali as he has surpassed the record tally in just 116 Test matches compared to Warne’s 145.

The record holder earlier too became the most successful bowler after he broke the record of Courtney Walsh’s 519 Test match wicket in 2004. But Shane Warne replaced him in the same year as highest Test match wicket taker.

After repossessing the same spot it appears that he will hold the place for long as the second highest wicket taker in Test match is already retired and the third highest Anil Kumble is nearly 150 wickets less than Murali at 576.

After this accomplishment Warne congratulated Murali, “I congratulate Murali for breaking the record I had," Warne said. "It was nice to have the record for a short while but I knew I would only have it for a short time.”

“Murali has said he wanted to take 1000 Test wickets and he has every chance of getting there,” added Warne.

“If he does I don't think anyone else will catch him,” he said as written on the wall.

He was called as ‘chucker’ by those who doubted his bowling action, which created controversies in cricket world. He cleared after undergoing biomechanical test at various institutes in Australia and Hong Kong.

But these records which send his home crowd in jubilations will be a reminder who believed himself more than others.

Highest wicket-takers in Tests: