No-one can surpass Muralitharan's record, says Farbrace

Muralitharan is a superstar in his home country of Sri Lanka

Kent coach Paul Farbrace does not believe that anyone will ever come close to beating Muttiah Muralitharan's world record of 792 Test wickets.

Speaking after the Sri Lankan spinner announced his international retirement, Farbrace told BBC Radio Kent: "Cricket will be a lot worse off without him.

"He has mesmerised batsmen around the world and has nearly 800 Test wickets," said the former Sri Lankan assistant.

"No-one will ever beat that. That's a record that will stay forever."

Farbrace, who worked with the Sri Lankan legend as Trevor Bayliss' assistant between 2007-09, added: "I think that the greatest things Murali has given the game are humour, passion and excitement.

"He loves playing the game of cricket - that's obvious when he plays.

"Those big bulging eyes when he runs up to bowl - he's an unbelievable character.

He's just a good fun person and cricket will be a lot worse off without him playing the game - that is for certain

Paul Farbrace on Muttiah Muralitharan

"Throughout Test cricket, county cricket, provisional cricket in Sri Lanka, the IPL - every team loves him.

"He's the sort of bloke who will go into the opposition dressing room after a game.

"He talks to everyone, encourages people, spends hours with spinners on the opposition and, even if people don't want information, he goes and tells them.

"He meets the outgoing batsman at the dressing room door and tells them they've played a terrible shot but is is just so passionate and enthusiastic."

Muralitharan, who played five first-class games for Kent in 2003, spent the majority of his time in English county cricket with Lancashire in 1999 and 2007.

Farbrace said he will never forget the first time they met.

"I was with Kent at Twenty20 Finals Day in 2007 at Edgbaston and was probably a month or so away from going to Sri Lanka," recalled Farbrace.

"He was with Lancashire and they'd just been playing Sussex in their semi-final.

"He came out of our changing room and shouted to Rob Key: 'Hey, Keysie, you're sending us your fat coach' just as I came out the dining room and I patted him on the back and introduced myself to him.

"His eyes nearly popped out of his head that day.

"He's just a good fun person and cricket will be a lot worse off without him playing the game - that is for certain."