Murali to retire from Test Cricket in 2010

by WideWally Thu 30 Jul 2009, 16:04

Chuck chucks it in.

Muttiah Muralitharan has said he will retire from Test cricket at the end of Sri Lanka's home series against West Indies in November 2010. Speaking at the end of the first ODI against Pakistan, in which he was awarded the Man of the Match, Murali said he will focus on representing his country in one-day cricket until the 2011 World Cup and thereafter will stick to Twenty20 cricket.

Murali, 37, is the world's leading wicket-taker in Test cricket with 770 at 22.18 from 127 Tests. He passed Shane Warne's Test record of 708 wickets against England in December 2007, fittingly on his home ground in Kandy. He achieved the grand double of being the highest wicket-taker in ODIs as well when he went past Wasim Akram's record of 502 wickets in 2009.

Murali made his Test debut against Australia in 1992.

by The One Thu 30 Jul 2009, 16:50

weird. lankans seem to prefer giving up tests first

by beamer Thu 30 Jul 2009, 16:58

The One wrote:weird. lankans seem to prefer giving up tests first

Makes more sense for a bowler, you can go on longer bowling 10 or 4 overs in a game than you can bowling long spells over a 5-day match. Anyway he's finishing ODI's after the World Cup which is only a few months later. I can see some T20 players going well into their 40s once they've given up everything else.

by The One Thu 30 Jul 2009, 17:07

fair enough. world cup 2011 seems to be his retirement date for all forms of international cricket. would be surprised if he continues to play t20 for lanka, probably only ipl

by Bradman Thu 30 Jul 2009, 17:11

The way the Windies have been going it's probably a good decision.

by taipan Thu 30 Jul 2009, 20:14

I'll raise an elbow to this.

by Henry Thu 30 Jul 2009, 20:16

I can't imagine his wickets record ever being broken from now on. It's unlikely that the amount of test cricket being played is going to increase from here.

by The One Thu 30 Jul 2009, 20:25

the number of tests per year has seen a steady increase. with the new ftp it may well increase further

would still need a herculean effort

by JKLever Thu 30 Jul 2009, 20:34

The One wrote:

would still need a herculean effort

Too much muscle, elbows got to be a lot more flexible...

by Merlin Thu 30 Jul 2009, 21:22

@ Leve's crack .....

Lovely guy, Murali.
But for me - a chucker.
And before the righteous on here get uppity, no, this isn't a slur against a player just because he hails from the sub continent or was backed with blind faith by the ICC.

Warne is the classic, fluid action, spinner - the all time greatest. Bastard.

But the posts from Aussies after the 15 degree angled spinners retirement are sure as hell going to drop away !