Muttiah Muralitharan Profile: Test Cricket’s Leading Wicket-Taker
Profile of Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan off-spinner who finished with 800 Test wickets and 534 in one-day internationals between 1992 and 2011.
Muttiah Muralitharan retired as the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, with 800 wickets in 133 matches, and also took 534 wickets in one-day internationals. An off-spinner with exceptional wrist and finger rotation, he became the defining bowler of Sri Lanka’s rise in international cricket.
Early life and rise
Born in Kandy in 1972, Muralitharan came from a family that ran a biscuit business and was educated at St Anthony’s College. He made his Test debut against Australia in 1992 and by the mid-1990s had become Sri Lanka’s main attacking weapon, particularly on home pitches that offered turn.
Playing style
Muralitharan combined remarkable flexibility in the wrist with a bubbling, enthusiastic approach to the crease. He spun the ball sharply both ways, notably with the doosra, the delivery that turns away from the right-handed batter. His bowling action was the subject of scrutiny and debate for years, and after repeated testing, it was cleared by the International Cricket Council.
Career highlights
He took 67 five-wicket hauls and 22 ten-wicket matches in Tests. One of the best individual performances came at The Oval in 1998, where he took 16 wickets as Sri Lanka won a one-off Test against England. He was part of the Sri Lankan team that won the 1996 World Cup and later played in the 2007 and 2011 finals.
His 800th and final Test wicket came in Galle in 2010 against India, in his last Test match. He retired from limited-overs international cricket after the 2011 World Cup.
Franchise and county cricket
Muralitharan played for Lancashire and Kent in English county cricket and for Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the Indian Premier League.
Legacy
Beyond his statistics, Muralitharan is respected for his charitable work, including relief efforts after the 2004 tsunami. His record remains a landmark in the sport. Totals are quoted as at his retirement.
Frequently asked questions
How many Test wickets did Muttiah Muralitharan take?
He took 800 Test wickets in 133 matches, a record at the time of his retirement.
Who was Muralitharan’s 800th Test victim?
His 800th wicket came against India in Galle in 2010, in his final Test.
What is the doosra?
The doosra is an off-spinner’s delivery that turns away from a right-handed batter, and Muralitharan was among its best-known exponents.