 Muttiah Muralitharan leads his team-mates off the field |
Muttiah Muralitharan played down his rivalry with Australia's Shane Warne after becoming only the second bowler to take 600 Test wickets. The Sri Lankan reached the milestone on the third day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Bogra.
"I think he is the number one bowler and he has proved it by taking 650-odd wickets. It is hard to catch him, but he is four years older than me.
"Who will play the longer will have the record," Muralitharan commented.
Although he was the first to 500 wickets, the 33-year-old was beaten to 600 by Warne, who achieved the landmark last August during the Ashes series in England.
Warne is now on 659 and if he stays fit, he could be close to 700 by the end of the year with three Tests upcoming in South Africa, to be followed by two in Bangladesh.
But Muralitharan does have the satisfaction of being the only player in history to take over 1,000 wickets in international cricket, combining Tests and one-dayers.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, look certain to wrap up a 2-0 series win over Bangladesh on Saturday as they need only 43 more runs for victory with all 10 second innings wickets standing.
But Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore has voiced frustration at the standard of the umpiring.
"I have some very strong feelings, not just about this match, but the whole series. I will convey them through proper channels," he said.
MMIX
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