John Howard had called him a chucker but Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan says he has forgiven the former Australian Prime Minister, who has been nominated to take over as ICC President from 2012.
Kiwi star Brendon McCullum must have given nightmare to many bowlers around the world during his international playing days. The former New Zealand captain, who recently retired from international cricket, named the four toughest bowlers he found difficult to face against during his 14-year dream career. "Murali (Sri Lanka champion Muthiah Muralitharan) was always, for me, incredibly difficult to face, mainly because you had no idea which way it was spinning," McCullum told Star Sports. "Brad Hogg, as well, because of his uncanny bowling action and his ability to turn it both ways. "I think Brett Lee when he was in his pomp. He was fast, wasn't he? "And probably Mitchell Starc too of more recent times."
England's James Anderson became the leading fast bowler in Test history as he bowled Mohammed Shami to seal victory for England over India at the Oval on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old debuted for England in 2007 at Colombo with Chaminda Vaas his first, and only, wicket in that Test at a cost of 95 runs and logged his best figures of 8-15 when he rampaged through the Australians at Trent Bridge in the Ashes five years ago.
India skipper Virat Kohli was effusive in praise of Ravchandran Ashwin after the off-spinner became only the fourth Indian, and sixth spinner in the world, to take 400 Test wickets.
Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan tried to shy away form the limelight and said there is no point creating a controversy over Sachin Tendulkar's revelation on Greg Chappell.
Brainchild of former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, the iconic bowling duo, who have signed a three-year contract, will spend at least 30 days with a pool of Bengal youngsters for a development programme aimed at creating supply line for the senior team.
Sri Lanka Cricket has protested to the Australian cricket team management over alleged highhandedness of spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan, who is working with the visitors as a spin consultant for the three-Test series in island nation.
Former Sri Lanka spin sensation Muttiah Muralitharan discusses the BCCI's clampdown on suspect bowling actions and his role as bowling coach and mentor of Sunrisers Hyderabad with Harish Kotian/Rediff.com
Only James Anderson, Muttiah Muralitharan and Imran Khan have taken more Test wickets against India, earning Nathan Lyon significant praise from Indian great Sachin Tendulkar.
Many have already started talking about new batting sensations and India's vice-captain Virat Kohli as Sachin's possible successor but legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said there was no point in this comparison.
'When a finger spinner bowls, the ball is released with seam so that there is turn and bounce. When you are bowling the googly, the seam will be scrambled and very difficult to pick'
A B de Villiers and Muttiah Muralitharan starred with the bat and ball respectively as Royal Challengers Bangalore posted a 20-run victory over Delhi Daredevils to start their campaign in the fifth edition of Indian Premier League on a winning note in Bangalore on Saturday.
Yuvraj took to Twitter to ask his fans to applaud the Englishman's hard work and achievement.
Team India coach Ravi Shastri will come out with a book this summer where he will walk down the memory lane
Sanath Jayasuriya scored a superb 130 as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 132 runs in their Asia Cup match.
'Well, there is always excitement when India plays. So I am looking forward to the series. Lots of young talent in the spin bowling department. Am looking forward to seeing the spinners doing really well.'
The Sri Lanka off-spinner broke the previous record of 708 wickets, held by retired Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, when he bowled England's Paul Collingwood for 45 on the third day of the first Test.
Spin wizards Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne on Thursday ended their brief war of words after patching up at the unveiling ceremony of the 'Warne-Muralitharan Trophy' and described the entire saga as 'miscommunication'.
Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan claimed 4-30 to equal Shane Warne's world record for the most test wickets on the second day of the first Test against England on Sunday. Muralitharan ripped through England's top order after lunch to reduce the tourists to 186 for six shortly before tea when rain washed out play for the day.
'I must say hats off to him. He is a great bowler, great guy to be with,' said the India off-spinner while congratulating the Sri Lankan on equaling the world record tally of 708 Test wickets.
The Tamil rebel outfit, however, vowed to resolve differences with V Muralitharan without bloodbath.
Muralitharan sat out nets on Sunday afternoon due to stomach upset and then suffered from stomach cramps throughout the night.
India captain Anil Kumble showered rich tributes on Muttiah Muralitharan saying the ace off-spinner can scale the 1000-wicket mark in Tests.
Retired Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan feels his former teammate Hashan Tillakaratne should either furnish proof of match-fixing by the country's cricketers or stop making such allegations.
Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of Saturday's World Cup final against India after injuring his right thigh muscle in the semi-final against New Zealand.
Young leg-spinner Rahul Sharma tells our correspondent Manu Shankar that he is proud of his achievements in the IPL so far.
Spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan and all-rounder Angelo Mathews are doubtful for the World Cup final against India, prompting the Sri Lankan team management to call in Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv as standbys for the the April 2 clash in Mumbai.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the 3rd Test played between England and Pakistan at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Monday.
Controversial former umpire Darrell Hair has claimed that many of the current officials suspect Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan's action but do not want to call him in matches for the fear of creating a furore.
Rajneesh Gupta highlights important numbers featuring the Sri Lankan team from World Cups.
Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan will be inaugurating the new cricket pitches laid in a stadium in the former LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi.
Australia great Glenn McGrath says he has great respect for James Anderson after the Englishman replaced him as the most prolific pace bowler in Test cricket.
One of the finest spinners of all-time, Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan bowed out of international cricket as the highest wicket-taker in both Tests and ODIs though he failed to make an impact in his swansong match -- the World Cup final against India.
Muttiah Muralitharan took a wicket with his final ball on home soil as Sri Lanka took control of the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. The Kiwis could put up only 217 from 48.5 overs.
Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan plans to travel the world and raise funds to build a sports complex for war-ravaged civilians in his country.
Iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar did not find a place in Kumar Sangakkara's list of all-time XI while Rahul Dravid was the lone Indian in the team selected by the former Sri Lankan skipper.
Showering praise on retired Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, former Australian captain Steve Waugh on Monday said there was no racist angle involved in chucking allegations which the bowler had faced earlier.
Legendary bowlers Shane Warne and Wasim Akram are of the opinion that no bowler can match, or even come close, to Muttiah Muralitharan's amazing achievement of 800 Test wickets.
Veteran off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has invited Indian orthopaedic surgeon and former medical consultant to the Sri Lankan team Mandeep Singh Dhillon to witness his swansong Test against India in Galle.
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