28.7.2008
Colombo:
In some disconcerting news for batsmen around the world,
Muttiah Muralitharan, a predator of an off-spinner, announced
on Saturday that the arrival of a young help-mate would
prolong his career.
"Now
that Ajantha (Mendis) has come, I think I can play Test
cricket a few more years," said Muralitharan after
the spinners had combined to take 19 of India’s 20
wickets in the first Test here at the SSC.
"Bowling
50 overs in an innings is very hard. Now if I can play only
30-35 overs and he can bowl more than me — he is a
youngster still — the job will get easier for me."
Muralitharan
had more bad news for international batsmen. He said his
spin partner would prove just as much of a scourge.
"When
I started, I had just the off-spin, and I had bigger turn.
He has more variations. That’s difficult for the batsmen.
If he keeps his head calm and keeps performing this way,
he will definitely take a lot of wickets in international
cricket."
Credit
for seniors
Mendis,
for his part, credited the seniors in the side for his success.
"I had the senior players helping me around, especially
Murali bowling from the other end," said the nerveless
debutant. "I didn’t feel nerves because it was
just another game for me."
Muralitharan
dismissed Sachin Tendulkar in both innings, earning the
distinction of having dismissed the master the most times
(7) in Test cricket. "I bowled very well to him, keeping
the pressure and both times, he played false shots,"
said Muralitharan, describing his strategy.
Sri
Lanka’s win also involved several excellent calls
for referral.
"If
it wasn’t there, we probably would have had four bad
decisions going against us in this match," said Mahela
Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain who made three of them
(batsman Tillkaratne Dilshanmade the other).
Tough
decisions
Added
Jayawardene, "Sachin’s and Rahul’s decisions
were both tough ones for the umpires to pick up, especially
when you have two bowlers like Murali and Ajantha at the
batsmen on these kind of tracks. It is not easy. They just
needed that extra bit of help."
Courtesy
- The Island
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