Hooper end likely after Murali signs for Lancs

MANCHESTER: Muttiah Muralitharan’s arrival at Lancashire next year could mean the end of former West Indies captain Carl Hooper’s career at Old Trafford. The 32-year-old Muralitharan, the world record holder for the most Test wickets, signed a deal with Lancashire that will see him start the season as their overseas player next year. Currently, he will only be available for the first half of the season due to international commitments.

Although Lancashire will probably have a space for another overseas player, especially if Autralian Stuart Law is confirmed as a domestically qualified player, another Brad Hodge is hotly tipped to join the roster at Old Trafford. The 38-year-old Hooper, who played 102 Tests for West Indies, had a moderate season for Lancs, finishing with just 693 runs at an average of 38.5. There was some speculation after Lancs’ last match of the season that Hooper would not be returning when coach Mike Watkinson had hinted that it might have been his last season there. “Carl has had a great career and he is perhaps thinking whether this might be his last match or not,” Watkinson said last month.