Former Sri Lanka [Images] skipper Arjuna Ranatunga insists that Mutthiah Muralitharan is a better spin bowler than Australian legend Shane Warne [Images] as the off-spinner often took wickets without much assistance from other bowlers.

Ranatunga said the fact that Muralitharan had reached 700 Test wickets playing lesser number of matches than that of Warne stood proof to the Lankan's superiority.

"If you take the record, Murali has played less matches and Warne never had to bowl at the top-order batsman. He always had McGrath and Gillespie to take wickets at the start. Warne would come in sometimes and clear the tail. If you look at Murali, he has to come on and take top-order wickets from the start," Ranatunga was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

The 1996 World Cup-winning captain said Muralitharan got his wickets while bowling against better batsmen, especially the Indians who were better players of spin bowling.

"If you look at the top players who play spin well, especially the Indians, Murali has done pretty well," he said.      "Murali is far more difficult to play than Warne. Warnie was a really good bowler but I feel Murali is the best."      Backing India, Ranatunga said the team from the subcontinent could beat Australia during their forthcoming tour Down Under.

"This is another opportunity for India to win against Australia," he said. "India looks a better batting and bowling side now with some younger guys coming through -- they should play positive and aggressive cricket.

"When you play against Australia you really have to give it to them and when you do they haven't been good.