Walsh sends congrats to Murali

KINGSTON: Courtney Walsh has offered his congratulations to Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan bowler who has beaten his Test bowling record. “To get 500 wickets in less than 90 Tests, I think he deserves whatever he gets,” Walsh told Radio Jamaica after Murali had passed his own mark of 519. “He has been a tremendous bowler for Sri Lanka and he is bound to get wickets as long as he is playing. “His strike rate is phenomenal. He deserves all the credit he is getting.”

Walsh, a West Indies pace legend who burst onto the scene when the Caribbean men were feared throughout the world, backs controversial spinner Muralitharan to be the long-term holder of the record. “He is younger and because he is an off-spin bowler, I think he will play a little longer than (Australian leg-spinner) Shane Warne,” Walsh said. “He could easily end up with between 800 and 1,000 Test wickets.” Walsh retains the distinction of being the first and so far the only fast bowler to have taken 500 wickets in Tests. He added: “I do not know when a fast bowler will take that many wickets again.”

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan’s mother, Lakshmi Muralitharan, said: “I think I am the happiest mother in the world today. “I didn’t think he would come this far. I never even thought he would play for the country.” Muralitharan’s father, S Muttiah, a sweetshop owner from Kandy, said he was overjoyed. “If he continues for a few more years, I am sure that he will go on to pick up 1,000 wickets in Test cricket,” he said. Muralitharan’s record-breaking achievement was witnessed by just 400 spectators at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe on Saturday.