Murali

[Deleted member 1418]

Seen today that Muttiah Muralitharan is retiring from test cricket with a wicket haul that - in the modern game - is highly unlikely to be passed.

Is he the best of all time? Or will he forever be tarnished with the 'dodgy action / chucker' tag?

Even though he is apparently a great bloke both on and off the field, I personally put Shane Warne (dodgy tablets and all) and Courtney Walsh above Murali. In my opinion I think that a high number of his wickets were obtained with an action that was only cleared so that Sri Lanka could remain competitive in the test arena (you can't really say 1 day arena as it was their batsmen who changed the face of how that form of cricket was played).

And I don't regret pointing this out to the bar staff in the hotel I stayed in on my honeymoon in Sri Lanka

 

[jammydodger]

I understand your dodgy action comments Pieman , but the guy could turn an orange on a marble floor. I think the guy was terrific and always had a smile on his face whether taking wickets or having a good old mow down the order.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

Won't disagree with you there Jammy - certainly played the game in the right spirit; just a shame that he has the 'is he / isn't he' questions against him whenever he plays.

Won't ever forget KP switch-hitting him for 6 though! Nice to see Murali bemused for once rather than a batsman who he was bowling to!

 

[USER1999]

I assume this is a cricket orientated post then.

Don't follow cricket, but from what I have seen, his action looks wrong in so many ways.

I guess if the powers that be allow it, then it must be ok.

 

[Whereditgo]

Getting on for 800 wickets (can't remember the exact number) which, dodgy action or not, is a staggering contribution and a great example of playing sport with the right attitude.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

At the end of the day the ICC cleared the action after I think 3 separate investigations. He played within the limits of the law. Add in the fact that he was always looking for the next secret weapon (doosra etc) and to my mind he was probably the most creative bowler ever. There are others I preferred to watch like Lilley, Bothan, Holding, Croft etc in their prime but he was always good entertainment value watching the batsmen trying to figure what grenade was coming next.

 

[Snelly]

Agree with the sentiments above...............but he was still a chucker.

 

[BrianDamage]

At the end of the day he wasn't within the laws with his action. The rules were changed to allow for more flex of the elbow.
For me he chucks it however the ICC let him carry on so you could argue that it's irrelevant.
Pure number of wickets for me isn't a fair assessment in comparing him with Warne. There are other variables. For a start Murali has taken loads of wickets against Zimbabwe Bangladesh. Warne has hardly played them. Murali played half of his tests on spin friendly sri lankan wickets. Warne had to share the ball with other great bowlers like McGrath and Gillespie (not the 2005 model he was a spent force by then). It would be very normal for Warne to be introduced to the attack with the batting side 3-5 wickets down. Therefore he has less wickets remaining to take. Sri Lanka's pace attack of the time wouldn't rip thru top orders anywhere near as regularly so although the games played to wickets taken comparison seems fair it isn't because Warne had far less opportunities.

 

[BrianDamage]

Warne Test wickets - 708
v Bangladesh & Zimbabwe - 17.

Murali Test wickets - 792
v Bangladesh & Zimbabwe - 176.

 

[JustOne]

At the end of the day he wasn't within the laws with his action. The rules were changed to allow for more flex of the elbow.
For me he chucks it however the ICC let him carry on so you could argue that it's irrelevant.
Pure number of wickets for me isn't a fair assessment in comparing him with Warne. There are other variables. For a start Murali has taken loads of wickets against Zimbabwe Bangladesh. Warne has hardly played them. Murali played half of his tests on spin friendly sri lankan wickets. Warne had to share the ball with other great bowlers like McGrath and Gillespie (not the 2005 model he was a spent force by then). It would be very normal for Warne to be introduced to the attack with the batting side 3-5 wickets down. Therefore he has less wickets remaining to take. Sri Lanka's pace attack of the time wouldn't rip thru top orders anywhere near as regularly so although the games played to wickets taken comparison seems fair it isn't because Warne had far less opportunities.

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Very excellent post.



FWIW I prefer the chubby guy with the hair transplant

 

[Jabba]

Totally agree with the OP. A nice guy with a great record but imo he was a chucker.The excuse was made that he "had a deformed elbow which he couldn't fully straighten" but sport is about physical excellence. I wouldn't expect a head start in a foot race just because I'm a fat biffa.

Before the PC brigade get up in arms, I have helped train two disabled athletes both of whom have more balls than I'll ever have and have my admiration for their courage.

 

[Spoff]

His reputation will always be tarnished because of his action, how does Malinga get away with it too?

Warne for me was better and I preferred watching him.

I will always remember a Roses t20 match at Headingley, the Western Terrace were giving him unbelievable stick, all good natured mind, shouting no ball every delivery, he fielded in front of us at one point and was clearly loving the attention and took it inthe right spirit.

My Grandad's uncle's cousin, Fred 'The Demon' Spofforth was better than both though

 

[vig]

Totally agree with the OP. A nice guy with a great record but imo he was a chucker.The excuse was made that he "had a deformed elbow which he couldn't fully straighten"

Same Dad as Malinga

FWIW, Derek Underwood and some of the old guard would have mullared this record had they played anywhere near the games they do these days

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Great call about some of the old guard especially Underwood. I wonder what Laker would have done if he'd played as many games?

 

[toonarmy]

Murali and Warne are impossible to separate. Yes, Murali bowled more against minnows but Warne had the enormous luxury of the world's best seam bowler tying the batsmen down all the time.

They are both legends, simple.

However, the ugly accusations are mired in racism as they only came from the Australian section (press, ACC etc.) and no-one else questioned it. They also only started in earnest when it looked like Murali would outstrip Warne's total. Sour grapes? Have you ever known the Aussies be anything else when it comes to losing something?

They never complained about 'frog-in-a-blender' Harris of SA did they?

 

[BrianDamage]

However, the ugly accusations are mired in racism as they only came from the Australian section (press, ACC etc.) and no-one else questioned it. They also only started in earnest when it looked like Murali would outstrip Warne's total. Sour grapes? Have you ever known the Aussies be anything else when it comes to losing something?

Disappointed you feel that. The questioning of Murali's action was going on long before Warne or Murali were even close to the record. I couldn't care less who holds individual records. It's a team sport. To suggest noone else has questioned it except Aussies is pretty silly when most people on here are saying he chucks it. I'm glad he didn't get banned because he's been a great ambassador for the game but I still think his action isn't right.

 

[birdieman]

As a non-cricketer can someone explain why a bowler is not allowed to throw it and has to have a straight bowling arm.

They throw an equivalent size ball in baseball and the batters manage to hit it so why not cricket too?

 

[AuburnWarrior]

As a non-cricketer can someone explain why a bowler is not allowed to throw it and has to have a straight bowling arm.

They throw an equivalent size ball in baseball and the batters manage to hit it so why not cricket too?

Because that's just not cricket, dear boy.