Cricket Player Profile - Muttiah Muralitharan
- Full Name: Muttiah Muralitharan
- Birth Date: 17 Apr, 1972
- Age: 48 years 338 days
- Batting Style: Right-hand bat
- Bowling Style: Right-arm offbreak
- Teams: Sri Lanka
Batting & Fielding Average
| Type | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 133 | 164 | 56 | 1261 | 67 | 1794 | 70.28 | 0 | 1 | 146 | 29 | 72 | 0 |
| ODIs | 350 | 162 | 63 | 674 | 33* | 869 | 77.56 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 12 | 130 | 0 |
| T20Is | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 20.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| First-class | 232 | 276 | 83 | 2192 | 67 | 0 | 1 | 123 | 0 | ||||
| List A | 453 | 205 | 76 | 945 | 33* | 0 | 0 | 159 | 0 | ||||
| T20s | 164 | 38 | 14 | 81 | 11 | 110 | 73.63 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 31 | 0 |
Bowling Average
| Type | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 133 | 230 | 44039 | 18180 | 800 | 9/51 | 16/220 | 22.72 | 2.47 | 55.0 | 45 | 67 | 22 |
| ODIs | 350 | 341 | 18811 | 12326 | 534 | 7/30 | 7/30 | 23.08 | 3.93 | 35.2 | 15 | 10 | 0 |
| T20Is | 12 | 12 | 282 | 297 | 13 | 3/29 | 3/29 | 22.84 | 6.31 | 21.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| First-class | 232 | 66933 | 26997 | 1374 | 9/51 | 19.64 | 2.42 | 48.7 | 119 | 34 | |||
| List A | 453 | 23734+ | 15270 | 682 | 7/30 | 7/30 | 22.39 | 3.85* | 35.1* | 17 | 12 | 0 | |
| T20s | 164 | 164 | 3705 | 3945 | 179 | 4/16 | 4/16 | 22.03 | 6.38 | 20.6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Muttiah Muralitharan: A Legend of Spin Bowling
Muttiah Muralitharan, born on April 17, 1972, in Kandy, Sri Lanka, is widely regarded as one of the greatest spin bowlers in the history of cricket. His unique bowling style, characterized by an impeccable doosra and an extraordinary ability to turn the ball, made him a formidable opponent on the cricket field. Muralitharan's journey in cricket is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and unwavering passion for the game.
Early Life
Growing up in a modest family in Kandy, Muralitharan showed an early interest in cricket. His father, a Tamil tea planter, encouraged him to pursue sports, leading to Muralitharan joining local cricket clubs. His talent became apparent during his school days at St. Anthony's College, where he developed his skills as a right-arm off-break bowler. Despite being initially overlooked due to his unusual bowling action, Muralitharan persevered and honed his craft with the aspiration of representing his country.
Cricketing Debut
Muralitharan's international career began in 1992 when he made his One Day International (ODI) debut against India in Colombo. His Test debut followed shortly after on August 28, 1992, against Australia in the same city. In his early years, he faced criticism for his bowling style and actions, but Muralitharan remained undeterred, continuously working on his skills and technique.
Key Milestones and Achievements
Muralitharan reached several vital milestones throughout his illustrious career. His breakthrough moment came during the 1996 Cricket World Cup, where he played a pivotal role in securing the championship for Sri Lanka with key wickets and impressive performances. This victory launched him into the international limelight, and he quickly became a household name in the cricketing world.
Throughout his career, Muralitharan amassed numerous records, becoming the highest wicket-taker in both Test and ODI cricket. He retired from ODIs in 2011 after capturing 534 wickets, while his Test career concluded in 2010 with an incredible 800 wickets, making him the first cricketer to achieve this milestone. Muralitharan’s achievements extend beyond mere statistics; he was instrumental in transforming the art of spin bowling and setting new standards for subsequent generations of bowlers.
Records and Statistics
Some of Muralitharan's most notable records include:
- Highest wicket-taker in Test cricket - 800 wickets in 133 matches
- Highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket - 534 wickets in 350 matches
- First bowler to reach 800 Test wickets
- Most 5-wicket hauls in Tests - 67
- Most 10-wicket hauls in Tests - 22
His career statistics across formats are as follows:
Career Statistics
Test Matches
- Matches: 133
- Wickets: 800
- Bowling Average: 22.72
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 9/51
- 5-Wicket Hauls: 67
- 10-Wicket Match Hauls: 22
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- Matches: 350
- Wickets: 534
- Bowling Average: 33.43
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 7/30
- 5-Wicket Hauls: 10
Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)
- Matches: 39
- Wickets: 13
- Bowling Average: 30.62
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 4/24
Impact on the Game
Muttiah Muralitharan's impact on cricket transcends his remarkable statistics. His innovative style of off-spin bowling, particularly the doosra, revolutionized spin bowling techniques and inspired a new generation of cricketers. Muralitharan’s dedication to his craft and his sportsmanship earned him respect and admiration from peers and fans alike. Post-retirement, he remains active in cricket, contributing to coaching and mentoring younger players, thus ensuring that his legacy endures in the world of cricket.
In summary, Muttiah Muralitharan's illustrious career, marked by unprecedented achievements and records, solidifies his status as one of cricket’s all-time greats. His relentless pursuit of excellence and his innovative approach to spin bowling will forever leave an indelible mark on the sport.
This content was generated with the assistance of AI (ChatGPT by OpenAI), and it is not reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy and clarity.
