Editing Muttiah Muralitharan (section)

==International career==
===Bowling style and career progress===
[[File:MMuralidaranBowling.png|thumb|right|600px|A graph showing Muralitharan's Test career bowling statistics and how they have varied over time]]

Muralitharan is the first wrist-spinning off-spinner in the history of the game.<ref name="Art of the obvious">{{cite web |url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/slveng/content/story/323376.html |title=The art of the obvious |first=Suresh |last=Menon |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=4 December 2007 |access-date=4 December 2007 |archive-date=5 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205225007/http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/slveng/content/story/323376.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
He bowls marathon spells, yet he is usually on the attack. His unique bowling action begins with a short run-up, and culminates with an open-chested extremely wristy release from a partly supinated forearm which had him mistaken for a [[leg spin|leg-spinner]] early in his career by [[Allan Border]].<ref name="Observer Straight man">{{Cite news |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,6903,1258512,00.html |title=Straight man |first=Shahriar |last=Khan |work=[[The Observer|Observer Sport]] |date=11 July 2004 |access-date=15 December 2007 |location=London |archive-date=7 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107101157/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,6903,1258512,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Aside from his stock delivery, the off-break, of which he claimed to have two variations (during a recorded television 'doosra' show off with Mark Nicholas from [[Channel 4]] in 2004), his main deliveries are a fast [[topspinner]] which lands on the seam and usually goes straight on, and the [[doosra]], a surprise delivery which turns from leg to off (the opposite direction of his stock delivery) with no easily discernible change of action.<ref name="Muttiah Muralitharan - Legend / The Genius">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GDwG14GcwE| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620045656/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GDwG14GcwE| archive-date=2014-06-20 | url-status=dead|title= Visual comparison of Murali's off-break and doosra actions|via=YouTube|access-date=17 January 2008}}</ref><ref name="Muttiah Muralitharan Bowling action dissected">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i8CdcjCQ8k| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620051119/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i8CdcjCQ8k&feature=related| archive-date=2014-06-20 | url-status=dead|title= Bowling action dissected|via=YouTube|access-date=17 March 2008}}</ref> Additionally, he would occasionally use one of his several unnamed novelties. His super-flexible wrist makes him especially potent and guarantees him turn on any surface.<ref name="Profile ESPNcricinfo" />

From his debut in 1992, Muralitharan took 800 [[Test cricket|Test]] wickets and over 500 [[One Day International]] wickets, becoming the first player to take 1,000 wickets combined in the two main forms of international cricket.

===Test cricket===
====Emerging years====
On 28 August 1992 at the age of 20, Muralitharan made his debut against Australia at the Khettarama Stadium and claimed 3 for 141. [[Craig McDermott]] was his first Test wicket.

In August 1993 at Moratuwa, Muralitharan captured 5 for 104 in South Africa's first innings, his first five-wicket haul in Tests. His wickets included [[Kepler Wessels]], [[Hansie Cronje]] and [[Jonty Rhodes]].

Prior to the eventful Boxing Day Test of 1995, Muralitharan had captured 80 wickets in 22 Tests at an unflattering average of 32.74. Even at that point in his career he was the leading wicket taker for Sri Lanka having gone past [[Rumesh Ratnayake]]'s aggregate of 73 wickets.

====Boxing Day Test 1995====
During the second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] on Boxing Day 1995, Australian umpire [[Darrell Hair]] called Muralitharan for throwing in front of a crowd of 55,239. The [[Off spin|off-spinner]] was [[no-ball]]ed seven times in three overs by Hair, who believed the then 23-year-old was bending his arm and straightening it in the process of delivery; an illegal action in cricket.

Muralitharan had bowled two overs before lunch from umpire [[Steve Dunne (cricket umpire)|Steve Dunne]]'s or the Members' End of the ground with umpire Hair at square leg and these passed without incident. At {{Nowrap|2:34&nbsp;pm}} he took up the attack from umpire Hair's or the southern end. Muralitharan's third over was a [[Over (cricket)|maiden]] with all [[Bowling (cricket)|deliveries]] again passed as legitimate but in his fourth Hair no-balled him twice for throwing on the fourth and sixth balls. The umpire continued to call him three times in his fifth over on the second, fourth and sixth balls. While the bowler stood with his hands on his hips perplexed, the five calls provoked an immediate response by the Sri Lankan captain [[Arjuna Ranatunga]] who left the field at {{Nowrap|3:03&nbsp;pm}} to take advice from his team management. He returned at {{Nowrap|3:08&nbsp;pm}} and continued with Muralitharan who was called two more times in his sixth over on the second and sixth balls. At {{Nowrap|3:17&nbsp;pm}} Ranatunga removed the bowler from the attack, although he reintroduced him at {{Nowrap|3:30&nbsp;pm}} at umpire Dunne's end. Although Hair reports in his book, "Decision Maker", that at the end of the tea break he stated that he would call Muralitharan no matter which end he bowled he did not do so. Muralitharan completed another twelve overs without further no-balls and, after bowling Mark Waugh, finished the day with figures of 18–3–58–1.<ref name="THE CONTROVERSY'">{{cite web|url=http://www.muralitharan.org/murali/bernard.htm|title=The Controversy|publisher=muralitharan.org|first=Bernard|last=Whimpress|access-date=20 March 2008|archive-date=3 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703213924/http://www.muralitharan.org/murali/bernard.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After being no-balled Muralitharan bowled a further 32 overs from umpire Steve Dunne's end without protest from either Dunne or Hair, at square leg. The Sri Lankan camp was outraged after the incident, but the [[International Cricket Council|ICC]] defended Hair, outlining a list of steps they had taken in the past to determine, without result, the legitimacy of Muralitharan's action.<ref name="Muralitharan">{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.mcg.org.au/default.asp?pg=historydisplay&articleid=196
 |title        = Muralitharan no-balled by Hair
 |work         = The People's Ground
 |access-date  = 20 March 2008
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071217053020/http://www.mcg.org.au/default.asp?pg=historydisplay&articleid=196
 |archive-date = 17 December 2007
 |url-status   = dead
 |df           = dmy
 }}</ref> By calling Muralitharan from the bowlers' end Hair overrode what is normally regarded as the authority of the square leg umpire in adjudicating on throwing. Dunne would have had to break convention to support his partner.

At the end of the match the Sri Lankans requested from the ICC permission to confer with Hair to find out exactly how to remedy the problem with their bowler. Despite the game's controlling body agreeing to it, the Australian Cricket Board vetoed it on the grounds that it might lead to umpires being quizzed by teams after every game and meant that the throwing controversy would continue into the [[World Series Cup]] during the coming week. The Sri Lankans were disappointed they did not get an explanation and decided they would continue playing their bowler in matches not umpired by Hair and wanted to know whether other umpires would support or reject Hair's judgement.<ref name="Muralitharan no-balled by Hair">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcg.org.au/default.asp?pg=historydisplay&articleid=196 |title=Muralitharan no-balled by Hair |work=The People's Ground |access-date=20 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217053020/http://www.mcg.org.au/default.asp?pg=historydisplay&articleid=196 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=17 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Muralitharan's action was cleared by the ICC after biomechanical analysis at the University of Western Australia and at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology in 1996. They concluded that his action created the 'optical illusion of throwing'.<ref name="Profile ESPNcricinfo" />

====Mid career====
On 16 March 1997, Muralitharan became the first Sri Lankan to reach 100 test wickets, when he dismissed [[Stephen Fleming]] in the second innings of the Hamilton Test.

In January 1998, Muralitharan took his first ten-wicket haul against Zimbabwe in the first test at Kandy. Sri Lanka won by eight wickets and Muralitharan had figures of 12 for 117.

In August that same year Muralitharan produces his career-best test match figures of 16 for 220, in the one-off test against England. In England's second innings Muralitharan bowled a marathon 54.2 overs to pick up 9 for 65 runs,<ref name="Muralitharan 9 for 65">{{Cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EebphFKyzwY| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904004226/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EebphFKyzwY| archive-date=2015-09-04 | url-status=dead|title=Muralitharan, 9 for 65, Oval Test |via=YouTube |date=10 December 2008 |access-date=10 February 2009}}</ref> the other wicket being a run out. [[Ben Hollioake]] becomes his 200th test wicket. Sri Lanka won by ten wickets, their first Test victory in England. After breaking the world record for the most test wickets in 2007, Muralitharan commented that his 1998 performance at the Oval against England, was his career highlight. He stated "Everyone thought I was a good bowler then and I didn't look back from there."<ref name="Muralitharan test record">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/sri_lanka/7123499.stm |title=Muralitharan breaks Test record |work=BBC Sport |date=3 December 2007 |access-date=8 February 2009 |location=London |archive-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516234214/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/sri_lanka/7123499.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Playing his 58th test, Muralitharan claimed his 300th test wicket when he dismissed Shaun Pollock in the First Test in Durban, in December 2000. Only [[Dennis Lillee]] reached the milestone faster, in his 56th test.

On 4 January 2002 in Kandy Muralitharan might have finished with the best-ever figures for a single innings, but after he had claimed nine wickets against Zimbabwe [[Russel Arnold]] dropped a catch at short leg.<ref name="Art of the obvious" />
He missed out on the tenth when [[Chaminda Vaas]] dismissed [[Henry Olonga]] caught behind amid stifled appeals. Muralitharan follows up his 9 for 51 in the first innings with 4 for 64 in the second, equalling [[Richard Hadlee]]'s record of 10 ten-wicket match hauls, but needing 15 fewer Tests to do so.

On 15 January 2002 playing in his 72nd test, Muralitharan became the fastest and youngest to reach the 400-wicket landmark when he bowled Olonga in the third Test in Galle.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/slveng/content/story/323183.html |title=Timeline: Muttiah Muralitharan – Spinning his way to success |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=3 December 2007 |access-date=6 January 2008 |archive-date=7 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071207191708/http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/slveng/content/story/323183.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/1061149.html | title = Ask Steven – Youngest to reach wickets' milestiones | publisher = ESPNcricinfo | access-date = 11 October 2016 | archive-date = 11 October 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161011075557/http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/1061149.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

On 16 March 2004 Muralitharan became the fastest and the youngest bowler to reach 500 wickets during the second test between Sri Lanka and Australia played in Kandy. In his 87th test, he bowled Kasprowicz to claim his 500th victim just four days after Warne reached the landmark on the fifth day of the First Test between the two teams at Galle. Warne took 108 tests to reach 500. Muralitharan took 4–48 on the first day of the second Test as Australia were skittled for 120 in the first innings.<ref name="Murali 500 wickets">{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/17/1079199236221.html |title=Murali, Warne strike |first=Michael |last=Donaldson |work=The Age |date=17 March 2004 |access-date=27 March 2008 |location=Melbourne |archive-date=9 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209051912/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/17/1079199236221.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Passing Walsh and Warne====
In May 2004, Muralitharan overtook [[West Indies cricket team|West Indian]] [[Courtney Walsh]]'s record of 519 [[Test cricket|Test match]] wickets to become the highest wicket-taker. Zimbabwe's [[Mluleki Nkala]] becomes Muralitharan's 520th scalp in Tests. Muralitharan held the record until [[Shane Warne]] claimed it in October 2004. Warne surpassed Muralitharan's mark of 532 wickets by dismissing India's [[Irfan Pathan]]. Warne said he enjoyed his duel with Muralitharan, who was sidelined following shoulder surgery at the time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/2004/10/16/spt6.htm |title=Warne breaks Muralitharan's Test wickets record |work=Dawn |date=3 December 2007 |access-date=6 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041021043708/http://www.dawn.com/2004/10/16/spt6.htm |archive-date=21 October 2004 }}</ref>

After an outstanding year Muralitharan was adjudged as the [[Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World]] in 2006. In six Tests, he took 60 wickets. He took ten in each of four successive matches, the second time he performed such a feat. The opponents for his 60-wicket haul were England away, South Africa at home and New Zealand away: serious opposition. In all, Muralitharan took 90 wickets in 11 Tests in the calendar year.
<ref name="Wisden Leading Cricketer In The World 2006">{{cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/287072.html|title=Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World 2006|first=Simon|last=Barnes|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=20 March 2008|archive-date=5 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105115318/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/287072.html|url-status=live}}</ref> For his performances in 2006, he was named in the World Test XI by ICC<ref name="ICC Test Team of the Year">[[ICC Test Team of the Year]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=August 2019}} and ESPNcricinfo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/274468.html|title=Twelve from '06|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=2 January 2007|access-date=13 October 2019|archive-date=16 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716120313/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/274468.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2007, Muttiah Muralitharan became the second bowler after Warne to capture 700 Test wickets. The off-spinner reached the landmark when he had Bangladesh's last man [[Syed Rasel]] caught in the deep by [[Farveez Maharoof]] on the fourth day of the third and final Test at the Asgiriya stadium in Kandy. The dismissal signalled Sri Lanka's victory by an innings and 193 runs to give the host a 3–0 sweep of the series. Muralitharan finished with six wickets in each innings to claim 10 wickets or more in a Test for the 20th time.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.paktribune.com/sports/newsdetail.php?nid=3438 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131003217/http://www.paktribune.com/sports/newsdetail.php?nid=3438 |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 January 2013 |title=Muralitharan takes 700th wicket |work=PakTribune |date=16 July 2007 |access-date=26 March 2008 }}</ref> However, he was unable to pass Warne's record of 708 wickets when Sri Lanka toured Australia in November 2007, capturing just four wickets in two Test matches.

Muralitharan reclaimed the record for most Test wickets during the first Test against England at [[Kandy]] on {{Nowrap|3 December}} 2007. The spinner bowled England's [[Paul Collingwood]] to claim his 709th Test victim and overtaking Shane Warne in the process.<ref name="Cricinfo record story"/> Muralitharan reached the mark in his 116th Test – 29 fewer than Warne – and had conceded only 21.77 runs per wicket compared to the Australian's 25.41. This was Muralitharan's 61st 5-wicket haul.<ref name="Test record" /><ref name="BBC record 2007-12-03">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7124486.stm |title=Murali record dents England hopes |work=BBC Sport |date=3 December 2007 |access-date=3 December 2007 |location=London |first=Oliver |last=Brett |archive-date=6 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206115634/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7124486.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Warne believed that Muralitharan would take "1,000 wickets" before he retired.<ref name="Warne comments">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/3626081.stm |title=Warne backs Murali record |first=John |last=May |work=BBC Sport |date=14 April 2004 |access-date=18 December 2007 |location=London |archive-date=16 April 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040416011139/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/3626081.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Former record holder [[Courtney Walsh]] also opined that this would be possible if Muralitharan retained his hunger for wickets.<ref name="Walsh comments">{{Cite news |url=http://ia.rediff.com/cricket/2006/nov/10walsh1.htm |title=Murali could reach 1000 wkts: Walsh |first=Harish |last=Kotlan |work=Rediff.com |date=10 November 2006 |access-date=18 December 2007 |archive-date=20 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120111627/http://ia.rediff.com/cricket/2006/nov/10walsh1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Muralitharan himself believed there was a possibility that he would reach this milestone.<ref name="Murali prediction">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/sri_lanka/6209055.stm |title=I can take 1,000 wickets – Murali |work=BBC Sport |date=25 December 2006 |access-date=18 December 2007 |location=London |archive-date=10 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210042554/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/sri_lanka/6209055.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> For his performances in 2007, he was named in the World Test XI by ICC<ref name="ICC Test Team of the Year"/>{{Circular reference|date=August 2019}} and ESPNcricinfo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/review2007/content/story/328571.html|title=Mainly Aussie|last=Premachandran|first=Dileep|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=3 January 2008|access-date=13 October 2019|archive-date=27 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127160815/http://www.espncricinfo.com/review2007/content/story/328571.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Beyond the world record====
In July 2008, Muralitharan and [[Ajantha Mendis]] stopped India's strong batting as Sri Lanka won the first Test by a record innings and 239 runs in Colombo. Muralitharan finished the match with 11 wickets for 110, as India were shot out for 138 in their second innings after conceding a lead of 377 on the fourth day. He was well supported by debutant [[Ajantha Mendis]], an unorthodox [[Bowling (cricket)|spinner]] with plenty of variation, who took eight wickets in his debut match.

Muralitharan believed the emergence of Mendis would help prolong his own career. Muralitharan, 36, and 23-year-old Mendis formed a formidable partnership in the first Test thrashing of India, taking 19 of the 20 wickets between them. "If he keeps performing this way, he will definitely take a lot of wickets in international cricket. Now that he has come, I think I can play Test cricket a few more years. Bowling 50 overs in a Test innings is very hard. Now if I bowl only 30–35 and he bowls more than me, the job will get easier for me."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080726/wl_sthasia_afp/cricketsriind |title=India crash to big defeat after Murali-Mendis magic |work=Yahoo news |date=26 July 2008 |access-date=27 July 2008 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

For his performances in 2008, he was named in the World Test XI by ICC<ref name="ICC Test Team of the Year"/>{{Circular reference|date=August 2019}}.

====Performance analysis====
{|class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:42em; text-align:center; float:right; margin-left:1em;"
|-
!colspan="12" style="white-space:nowrap; text-align:left;"|Table: Test bowling performance
|-
|colspan="12" style="font-size:90%; text-align:left;"|A Summary of Muralitharan's Test bowling performance against all opponents.
|-
!style="text-align:left;"|Versus!!M!!O!!M!!R!!W!!5w!!10w!!Best!!Avg!!S/R!!E/R
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Australia||13*||685.3||100||2128||59||5||1||6 for 59||36.07||69.7||3.1
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Bangladesh||11||452.0||114||1190||89||11||4||6 for 18||13.37||30.4||2.6
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|England||16||1102.1||348||2247||112||8||4||9 for 65||20.06||59.0||2.0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|India||22||1125.2||215||3297||105||7||2||8 for 87||32.32||66.1||2.9
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|New Zealand||14||753.2||203||1776||82||5||1||6 for 87||21.53||55.1||2.3
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Pakistan||16||782.5||184||2027||80||5||1||6 for 71||25.46||58.7||2.6
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|South Africa||15||984.4||221||2311||104||11||4||7 for 84||22.22||56.8||2.3
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|West Indies||12||622.3||143||1609||82||9||3||8 for 46||19.62||45.5||2.6
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Zimbabwe||14||786.5||259||1467||87||6||2||9 for 51||16.86||54.2||1.9
|- style="font-weight:bold"
|style="text-align:left;"|Overall (9)||133||7339.5||1794||18180||800||67||22||9 for 51||22.72||55.0||2.5
|-
|style="text-align:left;" colspan="12"| Source: ESPNcricinfo<ref name="Test bowling analysis">{{cite web|title=Test bowling analysis |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/49636.html?class=1;template=results;type=bowling |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=23 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529204826/http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/49636.html?class=1%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dbowling |archive-date=29 May 2010 }}</ref> *Including one for an [[2005 ICC Super Series|ICC World XI]]
|}

In July 2007, Muralitharan achieved a career peak Test Bowling Rating of 920, based on the LG [[ICC Player Rankings]]. This is the highest ever rating achieved by a spin bowler in Test cricket. This also puts him in fourth place in the LG ICC Best-Ever Test bowling ratings.<ref>{{Cite news |title=LG ICC Best-Ever Test Bowling Ratings |url=http://www.cricketratings.com/ |access-date=22 January 2008 |archive-date=27 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127210050/http://www.cricketratings.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Muralitharan has the unique distinction of getting 10 or more wickets in a match against all other nine Test playing nations as well as capturing over 50 wickets against each of them. He also obtained 7 or more wickets in an innings against five nations, namely England, India, South Africa, [[West Indies]] and [[Zimbabwe]] (refer to table above). Muttiah Muralitharan also took at least five [[five-for]]s against all the other nine Test sides.

He currently holds the highest wickets/match ratio (6.1) for any bowler with over 200 [[Test cricket|Test]] wickets and also represented Sri Lanka in 118 Tests of the 175 that they have played (67.4%).

Against teams excluding Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, Muralitharan took 624 wickets in 108 Tests. By comparison, excluding his matches against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, Warne took 691 wickets in 142 tests. Murali's average of 24.05 is slightly superior to Warne's career average of 25.41. Muralitharan won 18 Man of the Match awards in Test cricket.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Muralitharan – Man of Match Awards (Test Cricket) |url=http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Misc/MiscManOfMatch2.asp?PlayerID=1234 |work=HowSTAT |access-date=23 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050302072533/http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Misc/MiscManOfMatch2.asp?PlayerId=1234 |archive-date=2 March 2005 }}</ref>

During Muralitharan's playing days, the ICC Future Tours Programme denied Sri Lanka and several other teams a level playing field. As a consequence Muralitharan never toured South Africa after December 2002 and never playing a Test at the spin-friendly Sydney Cricket Ground.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/468490.html |title=Dileep Premachandran: Nobody could have done it better than Murali |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=27 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727185540/http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/468490.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Another comparison of Muralitharan's bowling record against other successful international bowlers is their career record away from home. Muralitharan received criticism that he enjoyed great success on home soil, taking wickets on pitches that are more spin-friendly than other international pitches.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Warne is better than Murali |url=http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/robertcraddock/index.php/heraldsun/comments/warnevmurali/ |author=Robert Craddock Blog |work=Herald Sun |access-date=31 March 2008 |archive-date=24 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124020641/http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/robertcraddock/index.php/heraldsun/comments/warnevmurali/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> A quick analysis of his Test record of matches played outside Sri Lanka shows that from 52 matches he took 278 wickets at an average of 26.24 runs per wicket, with a strike rate of 60.1 balls per wicket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/player/49636.html?class=1;template=results;type=bowling|title=ESPNcricinfo – M Muralitharan – Test matches – Bowling analysis|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 March 2008|archive-date=31 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231003851/http://stats.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/player/49636.html?class=1;template=results;type=bowling|url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly, spin bowling rival Shane Warne retired with a slightly superior 'away' record of 362 wickets from 73 matches, at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 56.7.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/player/8166.html?class=1;template=results;type=bowling|title=ESPNcricinfo – SK Warne – Test matches – Bowling analysis|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 March 2008}}</ref> Due to the variabilities of Test cricket such as grounds played at and opposition played against it is difficult to compare the quality of the top level players and, as such, is very difficult and subjective. However, it is clear that Muralitharan did much better playing at home to test minnows Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, averaging less than 16 runs a wicket.

Cricinfo's statistics editor S Rajesh concluded that the decade 2000–2009 was the best 10-year period for Test batsmen since the 1940s.<ref>{{cite web |author=S Rajesh |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/decadereview2009/content/story/441892.html |title=Why 55 is the new 50. Decade Review 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=4 January 2010 |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=20 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420092010/http://www.cricinfo.com/decadereview2009/content/story/441892.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Muralitharan was clearly the leading Test wicket-taker during this period, capturing 565 wickets at 20.97 in spite of the dominance of the bat over ball. [[Shane Warne]] captured 357 wickets at an average of 25.17 during the decade.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?class=1;id=200;type=decade |title=Cricket Records. Most wickets |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304062124/http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?class=1;id=200;type=decade |url-status=live }}</ref> Of spinners with over Test 100 wickets only John Briggs (17.75), [[Jim Laker]] (21.24), [[Bill O'Reilly (cricketer)|Bill O'Reilly]] (22.59) and [[Clarrie Grimmett]] (24.21) have sub 25.00 bowling averages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283256.html |title=Records. Best career bowling average |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=21 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421233007/http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283256.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Muralitharan was on the winning side on 54 of the 133 test matches he played. In those games he captured a total of 438 wickets (8.1 wickets per match), at an outstanding average of 16.18 per wicket and a strike rate of 42.7.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/49636.html?class=1;result=1;template=results;type=bowling |title=Bowling records. Test matches |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=1 April 2011}}</ref>
Muralitharan took 795 wickets for his country Sri Lanka in 132 tests. The next most wickets for Sri Lanka in these 132 Tests was [[Chaminda Vaas]]' 309 – less than 40% of the spinner's pile. No one else managed 100. Collectively Sri Lankan bowlers tallied 1968 wickets across that span, of which Muralitharan accounted for 40.4%. Among the 24 other Sri Lankans who took more than 10 of those wickets, only [[Lasith Malinga]] did so at a better strike rate (52.3) than Muralitharan's 54.9 – and the latter bowled rather more overs, 6657.1 of them to be precise.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/470754.html |title=Rob Steen: Muttiah Muralitharan, the ultimate MVP |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=6 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006140505/http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/470754.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Test wicket milestones====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Number
! Batsman
! Method
! Score
! Team
! Match #
! Test #
! Notes
|-
| 1st<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.muralitharan.com/?mode=milestones&PHPSESSID=9a6d4c8e0c501c8f5c3d439cf15ec83f|title=The Test wicket milestones|publisher=Muralitharn.com|access-date=25 February 2008|archive-date=14 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714133158/http://www.muralitharan.com/?mode=milestones&PHPSESSID=9a6d4c8e0c501c8f5c3d439cf15ec83f|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Craig McDermott]]
| [[Leg before wicket|lbw]]
| 9
| {{cr|AUS}}
| 1
| 1195
|
|-
| 50th
| [[Navjot Sidhu]]
| caught [[Ruwan Kalpage]]
| 43
| {{cr|IND}}
| 13
| 1247
|
|-
| 74th
| [[Inzamam-ul-Haq]]
| caught and bowled
| 26
| {{cr|PAK}}
| 20
| 1305
| Breaks [[Rumesh Ratnayake]]'s Sri Lankan record<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153545.html|title=Pakistan v Sri Lanka—Second Test match|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=25 July 2010|archive-date=10 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810045822/http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153545.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 100th<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153330.html|title=Second Test match: New Zealand v Sri Lanka|publisher=Wisden|access-date=30 July 2010}}</ref>
| [[Stephen Fleming]]
| bowled
| 59
| {{cr|NZL}}
| 27
| 1359
|
|-
| 150th<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63782.html|title=2nd Test: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at Colombo (SSC), January 14–18, 1998|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=18 August 2011|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226135454/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63782.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Guy Whittall]]
| caught [[Mahela Jayawardene]]
| 17
| {{cr|ZIM}}
| 36
| 1395
|
|-
| 200th<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63809.html|title=Sri Lanka in England Test match: England v Sri Lanka|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=30 July 2010|archive-date=4 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804034933/http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63809.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Dominic Cork]]
| caught [[Romesh Kaluwitharana]]
| 8
| {{cr|ENG}}
| 42
| 1423
|
|-
| 250th<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153908.html|title=Third Test match: Pakistan v Sri Lanka 1999–2000|publisher=Wisden|access-date=30 July 2010|archive-date=31 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131025714/http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153908.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Naved Ashraf]]
| lbw
| 27
| {{cr|PAK}}
| 51
| 1489
|
|-
| 300th<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/87101.html|title=Muralitharan takes 11 but South Africa have better of drawn first Test|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=30 July 2010}}</ref>
| [[Shaun Pollock]]
| caught [[Tillakaratne Dilshan]]
| 11
| {{cr|RSA}}
| 58
| 1526
|
|-
| 350th<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/110264.html|title=Muralitharan reaches 350 Test wicket mark in record time|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=30 July 2010|archive-date=11 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611153605/http://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/110264.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Mohammad Sharif (cricketer)|Mohammad Sharif]]
| caught and bowled
| 19
| {{cr|BAN}}
| 66
| 1561
|
|-
| 400th<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154967.html|title=Third Test match: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe|publisher=Wisden|access-date=30 July 2010|archive-date=13 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813120636/http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154967.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Henry Olonga]]
| bowled
| 0
| {{cr|ZIM}}
| 72
| 1585
|
|-
| 450th<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/214631.html|title=Second Test match: Sri Lanka v New Zealand|publisher=Wisden|access-date=30 July 2010|archive-date=27 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827051025/http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/214631.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Daryl Tuffey]]
| caught [[Sanath Jayasuriya]]
| 1
| {{cr|NZL}}
| 80
| 1644
|
|-
| 500th<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/140086.html|title=Muralitharan slots into 500-wicket club|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=30 July 2010|archive-date=16 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916031432/http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/140086.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Michael Kasprowicz]]
| bowled
| 0
| {{cr|AUS}}
| 87
| 1688
|
|-
| 520th
| [[Mluleki Nkala]]
| caught [[Mahela Jayawardene]]
| 24
| {{cr|ZIM}}
| 89
| 1698
| Breaks [[Courtney Walsh]]'s world record<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/140761.html|title=Murali makes history as Zimbabwe fall apart|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=30 July 2010|archive-date=20 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520151159/http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/140761.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 550th
| [[Khaled Mashud]]
| caught [[Thilan Samaraweera]]
| 2
| {{cr|BAN}}
| 94
| 1764
|
|-
| 600th
| [[Khaled Mashud]]
| caught [[Lasith Malinga]]
| 6
| {{cr|BAN}}
| 101
| 1786
|
|-
| 650th
| [[Makhaya Ntini]]
| caught [[Farveez Maharoof]]
| 13
| {{cr|RSA}}
| 108
| 1812
|
|-
| 700th
| [[Syed Rasel]]
| caught [[Farveez Maharoof]]
| 4
| {{cr|BAN}}
| 113
| 1839
|
|-
| 709th
| [[Paul Collingwood]]
| bowled
| 45
| {{cr|ENG}}
| 116
| 1851
| Breaks [[Shane Warne]]'s world record
|-
| 750th
| [[Sourav Ganguly]]
| stumped [[Prasanna Jayawardene]]
| 16
| {{cr|IND}}
| 122
| 1884
|
|-
| 800th
| [[Pragyan Ojha]]
| caught [[Mahela Jayawardene]]
| 13
| {{cr|IND}}
| 133
| 1964
|His final delivery in Test cricket
|}

===One day internationals===
[[File:Muttiah Muralitharan.jpg|thumb|right|Muralitharan bowling to [[Adam Gilchrist]] in an ODI in 2006.]]

====Career summary====
On 12 August 1993 Muralitharan made his One Day International (ODI) debut against India at the Khettarama Stadium and took 1 for 38 off ten overs. [[Pravin Amre]] was his first ODI wicket.

On 27 October 2000 in Sharjah, Muralitharan captured 7 for 30 against India, which were then the best bowling figures in One Day Internationals.

On 9 April 2002 Muralitharan achieved a career peak ODI Bowling Rating of 913, based on the LG ICC Player Rankings. This is the highest ever rating achieved by a spin bowler in One Day Internationals. This also puts him in fourth place in the LG ICC Best-Ever ODI bowling ratings.<ref>{{Cite news|url= http://www.cricketratings.com/|title= LG ICC Best-Ever ODI Bowling Ratings|access-date= 12 February 2008|archive-date= 27 January 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080127210050/http://www.cricketratings.com/|url-status= live}}</ref>

In 2006, Muralitharan had the second (now third) highest number of runs (99) hit off him in a One Day International Innings. The Australians, especially Adam Gilchrist, attacked Muralitharan's bowling more than usual that day. Yet, for his performances in 2006, he was named in the World ODI XI by the ICC.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ricky Ponting takes top honours at glittering ICC Awards night|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-awards/content/story/266801.html|date=2006-11-03|work=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=4 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804091358/https://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-awards/content/story/266801.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Muralitharan does not have a great record against the Australians in ODIs and this was proved again as he was ineffective in the finals of the 2007 World Cup; his chief tormentor again being Gilchrist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/102992.html |title=ESPNcricinfo – Records – One-Day Internationals – Most runs conceded in an innings |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=22 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422020838/http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/102992.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Yet, for his performances in 2007, he was named in the World ODI XI by the ICC.<ref>[[ICC ODI Team of the Year]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=August 2019}} He was named in the 'Team of the Tournament' by ESPNcricinfo for the 2007 World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|title=And the winners are ...|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22952952/and-winners|work=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=14 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214064851/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22952952/and-winners|url-status=live}}</ref>

Muralitharan played in five [[Cricket World Cup]] tournaments, in 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. He captured 67 World Cup wickets and is second in the list behind Glenn McGrath who has 71,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=12;type=trophy |title=Most Wickets – World Cup |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=3 December 2007 |access-date=2 February 2008 |archive-date=14 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214084157/http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=12%3Btype%3Dtrophy |url-status=live }}</ref> and represented Sri Lanka in three World Cup finals. In 1996 Muralitharan was part of Sri Lanka's World Cup winning team that defeated Australia in [[Lahore]], Pakistan. Muralitharan also played in the 2007 World Cup final, when Australia defeated Sri Lanka in [[Bridgetown]], Barbados. He picked up 23 wickets in the 2007 World Cup, and finished as the second highest wicket taker in the tournament behind [[Glenn McGrath]]. He was part of the 2011 team who lost the world cup final against India in Mumbai. It was his farewell match as well. He was named in the 'Team of the Tournament' for the 2011 World Cup by the ICC.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sachin, Zaheer, Yuvi in ICC's World Cup XI|url=https://sports.ndtv.com/world-cup-2011/sachin-zaheer-yuvi-in-iccs-world-cup-xi-1572998|website=NDTVSports.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>

Muttiah Muralitharan was left out of the Sri Lankan one-day squad to tour [[West Indies]] in April 2008. The chairman of selectors [[Ashantha De Mel]] clarifying the non-selection stated that "We know he (Muralitharan) can still play in the next World Cup if he is properly looked after, so we want to use him sparingly to preserve him for the big games and the World Cup coming up in the Asian sub-continent where Muralitharan will be a threat."<ref name=omit>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/sri_lanka/7291858.stm ''Sri Lanka leave out Muralitharan''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319052812/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/sri_lanka/7291858.stm |date=19 March 2008 }} ''[[BBC News]]'' retrieved {{Nowrap|13 March}} 2008</ref><ref name="De Mel comments">{{Cite news|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/cricket/story/7906628/Jayasuriya-still-has-future---De-Mel |title=Jayasuriya-still-has-future—De-Mel |work=Fox Sports |date=13 March 2008 |access-date=16 March 2008 }}{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Muralitharan has the highest number of career wickets in One Day Internationals, having overtaken [[Wasim Akram]] on {{Nowrap|5 February}} 2009. Akram took 502 wickets in 356 matches. On {{Nowrap|3 February}} 2009, Muralitharan dismissed [[Yuvraj Singh]] in his 327th match, the third ODI against [[India national cricket team|India]] in [[Colombo]] to equal [[Akram]]'s record. He won 13 Man of the Match awards in this form of the game.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Misc/MiscManOfMatch2_ODI.asp?PlayerID=1234 |title=Muralitharan – Man of Match Awards (ODI Cricket) |work=HowSTAT |access-date=23 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050324004410/http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Misc/MiscManOfMatch2_ODI.asp?PlayerID=1234 |archive-date=24 March 2005 }}</ref>

===Batting===
An aggressive lower order batsman who usually batted at No. 11, Muralitharan was known for his tendency to back away to leg and slog. Sometimes, he could be troublesome for bowlers because of his unorthodox and adventurous ways. Once, in a Test match against England, while playing Alex Tudor, he moved back towards his leg stump trying to hook the ball and ended up lying on the ground sideways after the shot. He was infamously run out in a match against New Zealand when he left his crease to congratulate [[Kumar Sangakkara]], who had just scored a single to reach his century; the New Zealand fielder had not yet returned the ball to the wicketkeeper, so the ball was still in play. His highest Test score of 67 came against India at Kandy in 2001, including three sixes and five fours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/276556.html |title=ESPNcricinfo&nbsp;XI: Long live the tail |first=Andrew |last=Miller |date=16 January 2007 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=31 January 2008 |archive-date=27 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227040110/http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/276556.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He made valuable scores on occasion, including 30 runs against England at the Oval in 1998, including 5 fours,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1998/SL_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/SL_ENG_T_27-31AUG1998.html |title=Test match: England v Sri Lanka at The Oval, 27–31 August 1998 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=6 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206210616/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1998/SL_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/SL_ENG_T_27-31AUG1998.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 38 runs (4 fours, 1 six) against England at Galle in 2003,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/ENG_IN_SL/SCORECARDS/ENG_SL_T1_02-06DEC2003.html |title=1st Test: Sri Lanka v England at Galle, 2–6 December 2003 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=24 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224014808/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/ENG_IN_SL/SCORECARDS/ENG_SL_T1_02-06DEC2003.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 43 runs (5 fours, 3 sixes) against Australia at Kandy in 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/AUS_IN_SL/SCORECARDS/AUS_SL_T2_16-20MAR2004.html |title=2nd Test: Sri Lanka v Australia at Kandy, 16–20 March 2004 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=23 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423001021/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/AUS_IN_SL/SCORECARDS/AUS_SL_T2_16-20MAR2004.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 36 runs against the West Indies at Colombo in 2005,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005/WI_IN_SL/SCORECARDS/WI_SL_T1_13-17JUL2005.html |title=1st Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Colombo (SSC), 13–17 July 2005 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=8 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008013322/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005/WI_IN_SL/SCORECARDS/WI_SL_T1_13-17JUL2005.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and his highest-ever ODI score, 33 [[not out]] (4 fours and 2 sixes off 16 balls) against Bangladesh in the final of the [[Tri-Series in Bangladesh in 2008-09|2009 Tri-Series in Bangladesh]].<ref name="2009 Tri-Series Final scorecard">{{cite news |url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/tri-bdesh/engine/match/378756.html |title=ODI no, 2794, Tri-Nation Tournament in Bangladesh – Final, Bangladesh v. Sri Lanka |date=16 January 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=16 January 2009 |archive-date=16 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116231700/http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/tri-bdesh/engine/match/378756.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the latter match, Muralitharan's effort, which included three fours and a six off one over, played a key role in Sri Lanka winning the match and series after the first eight overs saw them reduced to 6 for 5, the lowest score ever recorded in an ODI at the fall of the fifth wicket.<ref name="2009 Tri-Series Final report">{{cite news |url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/tri-bdesh/content/story/386587.html |title=Murali cameo clinches humdinger |date=16 January 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=16 January 2009 |archive-date=16 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116231650/http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/tri-bdesh/content/story/386587.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Muralitharan has a strike rate close to 70 in Test cricket and scored over 55% of his Test runs in fours and sixes.<ref name="Profile ESPNcricinfo" />

Muralitharan, together with [[Chaminda Vaas]], holds the record for the highest 10th wicket partnership in Tests for Sri Lanka. The pair put on 79 runs for the last wicket at the [[Asgiriya Stadium]] against Australia in March 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/fow/highest_partnerships_by_wicket.html?class=1;id=8;type=team |title=Sri Lanka, Test matches, Highest partnerships by wicket |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121061250/http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/fow/highest_partnerships_by_wicket.html?class=1%3Bid%3D8%3Btype%3Dteam |archive-date=21 November 2007 }}</ref> Muralitharan also holds the record for scoring most runs in Test cricket while batting at the number 11 position.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Batting/BattingBestAggregateForPosition.asp |title=Most test runs in each batting position |work=Howstat |access-date=2 March 2008 |archive-date=6 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706033333/http://www.howstat.com/cricket/statistics/Batting/BattingBestAggregateForPosition.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

Muralitharan currently holds the record for the most [[duck (cricket)|ducks]] (dismissals for zero) ever in international cricket (Tests, ODI's and Twenty20), with a total of 59 ducks.<ref name="ReferenceA">''Cricinfo'', [http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/431248.html Ask Steven (Most ducks in international cricket; most ducks as opener batsman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526195703/http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/431248.html |date=26 May 2010 }}</ref>

===Abuse in Australia===
Muralitharan voiced his frustration at routinely being heckled by Australian crowds who accused him of throwing – one common jeer directed at him was "No Ball!".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003/hi/newsid_2740000/newsid_2741800/2741859.stm |title=Jayasuriya fearful for Murali |work=BBC Sport |date=10 February 2003 |access-date=1 January 2008 |location=London |archive-date=6 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106014909/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003/hi/newsid_2740000/newsid_2741800/2741859.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/4680246.stm |title=Murali cleared by yet more tests |work=BBC Sport |date=4 February 2006 |access-date=1 January 2008 |location=London |archive-date=7 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071207010208/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/4680246.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/4676700.stm |title=Murali frustrated by Aussie jibes |work=BBC Sport |date=3 February 2006 |access-date=1 January 2008 |location=London |archive-date=26 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626045200/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/4676700.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="The Age 2006-02-05">{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/abuse-driven-by-jealousy-says-murali/2006/02/05/1139074109034.html |title=Abuse driven by jealousy, says Murali |first=Alex |last=Brown |work=The Age |date=5 February 2006 |access-date=28 December 2007 |location=Melbourne |archive-date=9 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809192139/http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/abuse-driven-by-jealousy-says-murali/2006/02/05/1139074109034.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/235625.html |title=Muralitharan reprimanded for gesture |agency=Agence France-Presse |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=3 February 2006 |access-date=1 January 2008 |archive-date=7 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707052753/http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/235625.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the then Australian Prime Minister [[John Howard]]'s statement that Muralitharan was a "chucker",<ref name="The Age 2004-05-15">{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/14/1084289883247.html |title=No doubts, PM says Murali's a chucker |work=The Age |date=15 May 2004 |access-date=4 February 2008 |location=Melbourne |archive-date=31 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831135820/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/14/1084289883247.html |url-status=live }}</ref> in 2004, Muralitharan indicated that he would skip future tours to Australia.

[[Tom Moody]], the former Sri Lanka coach and former Australian Test cricketer, said he was embarrassed by the derogatory reaction and negative attention directed towards Muttiah Muralitharan by Australian crowds. Moody stated that "As an Australian when I have been with the Sri Lankan team in Australia, or playing against them in the World Cup, it's the only situation we find in the whole of the cricketing world where we have this disgraceful slant on a cricketer".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/296648.html |title=Aussie crowds embarrass Moody |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=2 June 2007 |access-date=1 January 2008 |archive-date=9 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709164837/http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/296648.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[2007–08 Commonwealth Bank Series|2008 Commonwealth Bank series]] in Australia, some members of the Sri Lankan contingent including Muralitharan, were the target of an egg throwing incident in [[Hobart]]. The Sri Lankan cricket selector [[Don Anurasiri]] was hit by an [[Egg as food|egg]], while Muralitharan and two others were verbally abused by a car-load of people as they were walking from a restaurant back to the hotel.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/lankans-security-boosted-after-eggthrowing-incident/2008/02/03/1201973741295.html|title=Lankans' security boosted after egg-throwing incident|work=The Age|date=4 February 2008|access-date=6 February 2008|location=Melbourne, Australia|first=Jamie|last=Pandaram|archive-date=12 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812100540/http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/lankans-security-boosted-after-eggthrowing-incident/2008/02/03/1201973741295.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to the incident taking place at night, it is unclear whether Muralitharan was indeed the target of the culprits.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/cbs/content/current/story/334909.html|title=Rotten egg prank could have turned bad|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=4 February 2008|access-date=4 February 2008|archive-date=7 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207153009/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/cbs/content/current/story/334909.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Even though the Australian coach of the Sri Lankan team, [[Trevor Bayliss]], down-played the incident as "a non-event", Cricket Australia tightened security around the team. In response to this episode Muralitharan was quoted as saying "When you come to Australia, you expect such incidents".<ref>{{cite news|title=Murali says he expected nasty greeting in Australia|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/DeccanHerald.com/Content/Feb42008/sports2008020450407.asp?section=updatenews|access-date=12 January 2016|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=4 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205190156/http://archive.deccanherald.com/DeccanHerald.com/Content/Feb42008/sports2008020450407.asp?section=updatenews|archive-date=5 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the conclusion of Muralitharan's test career cricket writer Rahul Bhattacharya summed up Muralitharan's trials thus:
"Murali is described often as a fox. This seems right. Unlike hedgehog bowlers who pursue one big idea, Murali, like a fox, had many ways of pursuit. Like a fox he did not hunt in a pack. Like a fox he was himself cruelly hunted for sport in some parts of the world. Fox hunting was banned a few years ago in England, but is still legal in Australia."<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.livemint.com/2010/07/29195103/Our-bowlers-and-other-animals.html| title = Archives Top and Latest News - mint| access-date = 1 August 2010| archive-date = 10 August 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100810060059/http://www.livemint.com/2010/07/29195103/Our-bowlers-and-other-animals.html| url-status = live}}</ref>

===Retirement===
On 7 July 2010, Muttiah Muralitharan formally announced his retirement from Test cricket at a media briefing in Colombo. He confirmed that the first Test Match against India due to commence on {{Nowrap|18 July}}, 2010 would be his last, but indicated that he was willing to play One-Day Internationals if it was considered necessary leading up to the 2011 World Cup, which Sri Lanka co-hosted.<ref name="The Island">{{Cite news|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=1639|title=Muralitharan wants youngsters to take over|work=The Island|date=9 July 2010|access-date=10 July 2010|archive-date=17 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617061435/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=1639|url-status=dead}}</ref> He identified Sri Lanka's World Cup win of 1996 as his greatest moment as a cricketer. He also stated that there were some regrets during his 19-year playing career. "Not winning Test matches in South Africa, Australia and India are regrets. But I am sure we will win very soon."<ref name="The Island"/>

At the start of his [[Indian cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2010|last match]], Muralitharan was eight short of 800 wickets.<ref name="Veera">{{cite web|last=Veera|first=Sriram|title=Murali gets 800, Sri Lanka win by ten wickets|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-india-2010/content/story/468370.html|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=22 July 2010|archive-date=25 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725174848/http://www.cricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-india-2010/content/story/468370.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At the fall of the ninth wicket of the Indian's second innings Muralitharan still needed one wicket to reach the milestone. After 90 minutes of resistance Muralitharan was able to dismiss the last Indian batsman [[Pragyan Ojha]] on the last delivery of the final over of his Test career.<ref name="farewill">{{cite web|last=Monga|first=Sidharth|title=Murali's romanticised farewell|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-india-2010/content/current/story/468414.html|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=22 July 2010|archive-date=25 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725153609/http://www.cricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-india-2010/content/current/story/468414.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By doing so he became the only bowler to reach 800 wickets in [[Test cricket]].<ref name="zeenews">{{cite web|title=Murali first man on earth to scale Mount-800|url=http://cricket.zeenews.com/IndiavsLanka/story.aspx?nid=31019|date=22 July 2010|publisher=Zeenews.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725181308/http://cricket.zeenews.com/IndiavsLanka/story.aspx?nid=31019|archive-date=25 July 2010|access-date=22 July 2010}}</ref> Sri Lanka won the match by 10 wickets, the seventh time they have done so and the second time they have done it against India.<ref name="Veera" /><ref name="Anil Kumble pays tribute to Muralitharan">{{cite news|title = Murali: The man who reinvented spin bowling|work = BBC News|date = 22 July 2010|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10708478|access-date = 22 July 2010|archive-date = 22 July 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100722191335/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10708478|url-status = live}}</ref>

In late 2010, Muralitharan announced his retirement<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://worldcupofcricket.com/cricketblog/2011/03/17/muttiah-muralitharan-to-quit-after-2011-cricket-world-cup/ |title=Muraltitharan to quit after 2011 Cricket World Cup |work=Cricket News |date=18 March 2011 |access-date=18 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902154815/http://worldcupofcricket.com/cricketblog/2011/03/17/muttiah-muralitharan-to-quit-after-2011-cricket-world-cup/ |archive-date=2 September 2011 }}</ref> from international cricket after [[2011 Cricket World Cup]], co-hosted by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka announcing "This World Cup will be my last outing. I am retiring totally from international cricket thereafter. My time is up. I've signed up to play for two years in IPL." His final ODI appearance in Sri Lankan soil came during the semi-final clash against New Zealand, where Muralitharan took the wicket of [[Scott Styris]] in his last delivery.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/508564.html |title=Murali's fitting run across the home stretch |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=29 March 2011 |archive-date=1 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401043020/http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/508564.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His last ODI was against India in the World Cup final at Mumbai, however Sri Lanka lost the match and Murali couldn't take any wickets.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/508885.html |title=Murali will play even with discomfort – Bayliss |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=31 March 2011 |archive-date=1 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401202101/http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/508885.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/509078.html |title=The two titans |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=25 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425062611/http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/509078.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/509297.html |title='We're going to miss Murali terribly' – Sangakkara |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=3 April 2011 |archive-date=16 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916135839/http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/509297.html |url-status=live }}</ref>