Category Archives: murali

January 12, 2018 · 12:56 pm

Three Striking Images

Lanka’s Present Cricketing Leaders

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October 30, 2017 · 4:23 pm

Darrell Hair plumbs the Depths Again: A Çonviction for Stealing

 Quintus de Zylva

Our Murali was tormented in the Boxing Day test match at the MCG by Darrell Hair when he called Murali for “chucking” as shown in the photograph. Hair was hailed as the ultimate courageous umpire for his action which stunned the cricketing world. Hair rode high for some years until Murali was finally cleared by the ICC of having an action that was within the fifteen degree limits of bending his arm. The Sri Lanka Cricket Foundation of Victoria supported Murali through several episodes of this torment. Hemaka Amarasuriya the then President of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board arrived in Australia to lend support to us as we had Murali visit several well-known defamation lawyers in Melbourne and Brisbane.

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June 9, 2017 · 10:48 am

Murali’s Newest Milestone

Murali is flanked by Ranjit Fernando, Angelo, Malinga and other Sri Lankan cricketers after receiving his Hall of Fame emblem. 

If feasible readers should take in the moment he was inducted and listen to Michael Atherton, Sangakkara and other dignitaries reflect on Murali’s career. As momentous was the interview given by Younis Khan after  he was honoured in England a few days back. One question was this: “who was the most difficult bowler you faced?” … Immediate answer: “murali” … with elaboration following.

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May 1, 2017 · 6:07 am

Five Brave Men who saved Murali’s Doosra

Muttiah Mutralitharan’s imminent induction into the ICC Hall of fame encourages a reflective step backwards to study why and how his magnificent bowling capacities had to be protected and rescued from the piranhas of the cricketing world. There were three different stages in the prejudiced attempts to execute Murali — with several Australians as the forefront of this fundamentalist current in cricket. I reproduce an article that was published in the South Asia Masala on 29th April 2010 (one of the more open Aussie institutions) … where the title was different: viz.“Saving Murali’s ‘doosra’: Five unsung heroes” The focus here is on the the third stage of the process that protected Murali’s skills.

 Murali bowls with brace Dr Dhillon & Murali

Michael Roberts

Gunasekara, Wijesinghe, Dhillon, Wijesuriya, Foster. These are five names that should be etched into the commemorative epitaph marking the third stage of the saga around Muttiah Muralitharan.

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April 25, 2017 · 1:02 am

Arjuna the Indomitable: Challenging Aussie Skulduggery in 1995-98 … and More

Andrew Fidel Fernando, courtesy of The Cricket Monthly, at ESPNcricinfo … http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1087120/arjuna-versus …where the title is “Arjuna Versus”

 January 1999: Sri Lankan supporters show Ranatunga some love outside Adelaide Oval, where he was facing a disciplinary hearing

v Australia, 1995-96
Sri Lanka have played in higher-octane, better contested and far more watchable series, but for pure watershed value none has left its mark on the island’s cricket like this pre-World Cup thrashing in Australia. If Ranatunga had not been at the helm, things might have gone very differently; it was the kind of tour that can run teams aground.

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December 22, 2016 · 12:30 pm

Murali chats with Ishara about his Life in Cricket

Ishara Jayawardane, in  Daily News, 22 December 2016, with the title “A spin with the spin master”

Modest yet amazing, and humble yet incredible. A man of very few words but mighty deeds. Outstanding Personalities features spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan who is regarded as the greatest bowler in the history of test cricket. Muralitharan holds the world record for the most number of wickets in both test and one-day cricket.

Q. Murali, you are the greatest bowler in test cricket and one day internationals claiming the highest number of wickets; 800 in test cricket and 534 in one-day international cricket. How do you evaluate your career?

A. I had a great career. I am very happy about what I have achieved. And I became the highest wicket taker in both forms of the game. So I am very happy about it.

 

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November 6, 2016 · 1:05 am

Breaking News Today: 1996 World Cup Squad in Victory Jaunt in Australia … Marking a Golden Era

Boasting greater solidity and bodily weight today, the triumphant Sri Lankan cricket team of 1996 were hosted in celbratory manner in the land of the vanquished THEN— in Melbourne, the cricketing centre of the cricketing giants Australia,

aa-996-squad

Rex Clementine, in The Sunday Island, 6 November 2016, where the title runs ” Golden era of Sri Lankan cricket”

The World Cup winning Sri Lankan cricket team has just concluded a trip to Australia to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their triumph on that remarkable night of March 17th 1996 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Seeing images of the team touring Australia brought back nostalgic memories as it was the players of this particular team that formed the nucleus of the side that ushered in the golden era of Sri Lankan cricket. The four year period from 1995 to 1998 can easily be considered as the golden era of Sri Lankan cricket for their outstanding achievements and the fear they created in opposition. They were not as dominant as Clive Lloyd’s West Indies of the 1970s, but the exciting brand of cricket they played helped change the way the sport was played.

 

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August 9, 2016 · 7:05 pm

Murali’s Testing Times …. Through Thick and Thin

Vithushan Ehantharaja, courtesy of The Cricket Monthly where the title is “When Murali bared his Soul”

Murali ++

There’s a sincerity to Mark Nicholas as he stares into the camera. He looks almost childlike in appearance: suit slightly oversized, top button done up and tie fastened yet not dovetailing. This isn’t the Mark Nicholas who prowls the pristine greens of Australia’s outfields with the manner of one on top of the food chain. Here he is sitting, shoulders flexed in. There’s uncertainty in the air and he can do little to hide it. The footage rolls.

It’s July 5, 2004, and Lord’s is preparing for an England-West Indies ODI. While most of the ground is a hub of noise, as cables are unreeled, fastened and taped, the Nursery Ground is still. Nicholas is in dark trousers and a cream shirt, with sleeves rolled up. Standing next to him, Muttiah Muralitharan is wearing a sleeveless Sri Lanka T-shirt. Continue reading →

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August 2, 2016 · 5:07 pm

Murali is placed Where he should be: Among the Immortals

Mahinda Wijesinghe, from the Sunday Island, 31 July 2016, with the title “Congratulations Murali on a Long Overdue Honour”

The majority of lovers of cricket, especially the Sri Lankan supporters, would be thrilled that Muttiah Muralidaran, known the world over as ‘Murali’ has been inducted as the 80th member of the ICC’s Hall of Fame.  He is the first Sri Lankan to be thus honoured. Those appointed to this coveted membership are based on the ICC “recognizing the achievements of these legends of the game from cricket’s long history of the game.”

25a-Murali wired up23d-Murali appeals

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July 28, 2016 · 6:36 pm

Muralitharan inducted into Cricket’s HALL OF FAME

Muttiah Muralitharan see http://bestworldstuff.blogspot.com/2011/01/hats-off-to-greatest-spinner-ever-in.html

The International Cricket Council announced on Wednesday that Muttiah Muralidaran, Karen Rolton, Arthur Morris and George Lohmann will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame later this year. Record-breaking off-spinner Muralidaran becomes the first Sri Lankan player to be inducted along with twice ICC Women’s World Cup winner and former Australia women’s captain Karen Rolton, her compatriot Arthur Morris, a member of Don Bradman’s ‘invincibles’ and England’s George Lohmann, the 19th century fast bowler who took 100 wickets in just 16 Tests. Continue reading →

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