Muttiah Muralitharan exclusive interview: Star opens up on chucking scandal, Nathan Lyon’s shot at world record

Muttiah Muralitharan is Test cricket’s greatest wicket-taker – but can anyone break his record? He reveals all, as well as opening up on his ‘chucking’ scandal, in a wide-ranging exclusive interview.

Nathan Lyon is the only player Muttiah Muralitharan says has any chance of breaking the Sri Lankan legend’s record of 800 Test wickets.

In a wide-ranging interview with this masthead during the Sri Lanka-Australia Test series whose trophy bears his name along with that of his longtime spin rival Shane Warne, Muralitharan has meanwhile bemoaned the fact that only one venue is being used for the two-Test series, maintains he holds no grudges towards the Australian umpires who called him for chucking, and paid tribute to Warne’s fundraising efforts in the wake of the devastating 2004 tsunami.

Muralitharan, 52, said he would not be at Galle International Stadium for the second Test because he is involved in a contemporaneous charity match in Bengaluru.

Muttiah Muralitharan (C) is cricket’s all-time leading wicket taker.

July will mark 15 years since Muralitharan took his final Test wicket, against India in Galle.

No one has breached the top two spots on the all-time Test wicket table held by Muralitharan and Warne (708), with England’s Jimmy Anderson retiring last year on 704.

While Muralitharan said that the changing cricket landscape would ensure no future players ever topple his mark, he left the door ajar for 37-year-old Australian offie Lyon, currently on 546 Test wickets, to get there.

“Records are meant to be broken. But the way Test cricket is going, I don’t know because somebody (from) this generation has to break it. The coming generation never will break it because they won’t play enough Test cricket,” Muralitharan said.

“You have to play at least 140, 150 Test matches to break that record. I played 130 Test matches.

“Anderson was there, he’s retired. Nathan Lyon… he’s still got a long way to go to 800 because it takes another four or five years, so whether he will play that long we don’t know.

“No fast bowler has a chance. …it’s very slim chances, unless…Nathan Lyon. Other than that I don’t think anybody (can do it).

“It will take (Lyon) five years, if you take 50 wickets a year even. Fifty wickets is not an easy target to get in a year.”

Australia's Nathan Lyon (L) is the only bowler who can track down the Test wickets world record, according to Muttiah Muralitharan. Picture: AFP

Lyon picked up seven wickets in Australia’s innings-and-242-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test. Muralitharan was not overly critical of the hosts though, saying that the toss played a disproportionately large role in the outcome of matches in the coastal city.

“If you win the toss in Galle, it’s very easy to win. Because the toss makes 80 per cent of the game,” he said.

“First day it’s easy to bat a little bit, then after that, second day onwards, very difficult.”

Muralitharan said he would prefer if the Tests had been shared around with other grounds in Colombo and Kandy.

“I don’t know why they’re choosing Galle. Maybe because other venues get the one-day games. Maybe because if you are only playing two Tests, they chose one venue (because it’s easier) logistically.

“SSC (Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo) is characteristically a very good ground. I have played a lot of Test matches there. So that’s disappointing not playing there. It’s a very good pitch there.

“Galle is mainly a spin-friendly wicket.”

Umpire Darrell Hair calls Muralitharan for throwing during the controversial tour of Australia.

Muralitharan faced several challenges in Australia, most notably being called for throwing during tours in 1995-96 and 1998-99. He was even labelled a chucker by then Prime Minister John Howard in 2004. But there is no lingering ill-will towards Australia, he says.

“I never felt bad about Australia at all. Australia is a wonderful country. People are good,” Muralitharan said.

“This is sport, there will be some good people and some people who want to disrupt things.

“I didn’t have any problems with Australia. I went and played after in Big Bash. If I had problems with Australia then why would I play in Big Bash.

“Even still (the umpires who no-balled him) Darrell Hair or (Ross) Emerson I don’t have any grudge on them. They are in the middle, they have done the duty, that’s their view. I thought that’s not the right view. We challenged in the ICC and I got over it.”

History’s greatest bowlers, Shane Warne (l) and Muttiah Muralitharan chat on the eve of Australia’s Test series with Sri Lanka Test in 2004.

On Warne, who died in 2022, Muralitharan was glowing in praise when describing the leg-spinner’s mind for the game.

“We had a good relationship. Whenever I would see him I would talk to him and discuss about cricket and everything. He had vast knowledge,” Muralitharan said.

“Whatever knowledge I could take from him I have taken.

“(After the tsunami) he came to our Foundation of Goodness (in Sri Lanka). And to make awareness, we needed help to build those things. So he did that. We got a lot of funds and everything from a lot of people.”

Muralitharan dominated world cricket – both red and white-ball formats. Picture: AFP

Muralitharan is optimistic new ICC supremo Jay Shah will act in the game’s best interests but also charged the global governing body with ensuring the survival of Test cricket beyond a few nations.

“Test cricket has to (be driven by) the ICC. There is no way individual countries can drive that, because there is no money in Test cricket. T20 is the game that has money, everyone invests,” Muralitharan said.

“So T20 is becoming the No. 1 spot.

“I know (Shah) very well. He’s good for the game. He has done really well for India. He’s young but he has the knowledge, he has the experience.”