Thursday, 30 August 2007

Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting yesterday urged the spectators to show due respect to Sri Lanka’s off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan if he breaks Shane Warne’s Test wickets record during the test matches between the two nations scheduled in November.

Muralitharan needs just nine more wickets to break the world mark of 708 Test dismissals, which could happen during Sri Lanka's two Tests in Brisbane and Hobart in November.

"He's had his fair share of ups and downs in Australia in recent years, but being the champion bowler that he has been, if he happens to break the world record in Australia I hope he is shown the respect he deserves," Ponting said.

Ponting however said his players were determined to prevent Muralitharan from overtaking Warne's record on Australian soil.

"That will be our major goal — trying to make sure he doesn't break Warnie's record here in Australia," Ponting said. "If we do that, we go a long way toward winning the series."
The Australian captain, speaking at a team briefing session involving Cricket Australia's 25 contracted players, said Muralitharan "has been an unbelievable bowler for such a long period of time."

"In the last series in Sri Lanka he took a lot of wickets, but he got a lot of our tail-enders out. He's actually come out in public and said we play him better than any other team in the world, and I think the stats probably back that up." Ponting said.

Ponting also contributed to the debate comparing Muralitharan with Warne. "When you add everything up, Murali's certainly been a great bowler," he said, "but Warney should be remembered as the greatest bowler of all time."