Murali Passes World Record
3rd December, 2007
Muttiah Muralitharan has become the leading Test cricket wicket taker, surpassing Shane Warne’s record of 708. He took the all-important wicket on the third morning of the England v Sri Lanka Test Series.
Playing in front of his home crowd at Kandy, the 35 year-old reached the milestone in his 116th Test – 29 fewer than Warne. His average is also better at just 21.77 compared to the Aussie’s 25.41. The Sri Lankan had previously held the record, before a shoulder injury let Warne overtake him. He also holds the records for the most five-wicket hauls (61) and 10-wicket hauls (20).
He told Sky Sports: "It is the right timing, that's (Collingwood) a special wicket. It was not meant that way because I tried to spin the ball and it didn't spin." Asked about the highlight of his 116-cap Test career, Muralitharan replied: "The highlight was in England when I took 16 wickets at the Oval (in 1998) because it made people think that I was a good bowler and one who could take wickets overseas as well as at home."
For the first Test of the England v Sri Lanka Test Series, betting is in Sri Lanka's favour at the moment, with most bookies making them just under evens to win the first Test.
