1 post tagged “shane warne”

Muttiah Muralidaran overtook Shane Warne as the 'greatest' wicket taker in Test cricket history.  Muralidaran currently has 710 test wickets but it is likely to continue to increase substantially as his career continues over the coming years.

If you look closely at Muralidaran's test scalps, he has taken a truckload of wickets against some of the worst cricketing nations in the world - namely Bangladesh and Zimbabwe (over 150) and also against countries who are in 'rebuild mode' from former greatness such as the West Indies, Pakistan and India.  As well as that, Muralidaran plays a lot of cricket in the sub-continent where pitches are deliberately prepared for spin.

If you compare that against Shane Warne's record, the majority of his test wickets came against, shall we say, much harder teams such as England and South Africa.  He has taken hardly any wickets against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe (17 all up) - because Australia hardly play against them.  Warne was able to bowl well and take wickets on any pitch type - regardless as to how it had been prepared.  Warne was a game breaker, a specialist, a champion !

To top it off, Muralidaran is a fair dinkum chucker with the dodgiest action in the history of test cricket.  Seriously, I reckon I could take 10-for in a match against Bangladesh too if I was allowed to chuck !!

It would have at least been nice to see Warnie's record stand for a decade or so before being broken to give it the due respect it so well deserved.  And when it was eventually broken - to be broken by a player who was worthy.  I remember when Dennis Lillee broke Richie Benaud's record - that was well deserved by a champion bowler who truly earned it.  And when Richard Hadlee broke Denis Lillee's record.... again, well deserved.

I don't think Muralidaran's record comes anywhere near Warne's - regardless as to whether he has taken more wickets or not.

World Travel Guide World City Travel Guide India Travel Guide India Travel Website Travel Swiss Tourism India Tourism African Travel Guide
World Travel Guide World City Travel Guide India Travel Guide India Travel Website Travel Swiss Tourism India Tourism African Travel Guide