Sri Lanka’s spin wizard and the world’s highest wicket-taker, Muttiah Muralitharan, has thrown his weight behind the home side, backing them to turn the tables on number one ranked Australia in the upcoming two-match Test series. Despite the series being a dead rubber – given that the finalists for the World Test Championship are already decided – Sri Lanka are eager to reclaim the Warne-Murali Trophy, which slipped through their fingers in 2019.

Muralitharan, who is set to grace Galle and hand over the coveted trophy named after himself and the late spin maestro Shane Warne, believes Sri Lanka’s recent resurgence bodes well for their chances.

“I’ll be in Galle for the last two days of the series, and I strongly believe Sri Lanka can win. Our track record in Galle speaks for itself, and more importantly, the team has turned a corner in recent months,” Murali told Telecom Asia. “Since Sanath Jayasuriya took over as Head Coach, they’ve addressed crucial shortcomings and started winning consistently. Even in defeat, they put up a fight, which is a clear sign of progress. It’s refreshing to see.”

Murali pointed to Sri Lanka’s biggest trump card – the spinning tracks in Galle – where the home side knows the terrain like the back of their hand.

“The pitch will turn, and that plays right into our strengths,” Murali noted. “However, my only concern is if it starts spinning from ball one, the toss could become the ultimate decider. That shouldn’t be the case – cricket is a game of skill, not a lottery. If the pitch behaves, Sri Lanka have the ability to take the game deep and outlast Australia. It’s going to be an exciting battle.”

Muralitharan also took a walk down memory lane, reflecting on his famous rivalry and friendship with Shane Warne. The two legendary tweakers were locked in a gripping race to 500 Test wickets, with Warne reaching the milestone first in Galle in 2004, while Murali followed suit just a week later in his hometown of Kandy. Debuting in 1992, Warne bid farewell to the game in 2007 with 708 wickets to his name, while Murali – three years his junior – pressed on until 2010, finishing with a jaw-dropping 800 Test wickets. They remain cricket’s two leading wicket-takers in the longest format.

In 2007, Cricket Australia and Sri Lanka Cricket immortalized their legacy by naming the bilateral series in their honour. Australia held onto the trophy until Sri Lanka’s emphatic 3-0 whitewash in 2016, but the Aussies wrestled it back in 2019 and managed to hold on after a 1-1 stalemate in 2022.

“For Warnie, Sri Lanka was always close to his heart,” Murali reminisced. “He reached his 500th wicket here in 2004, and when the tsunami struck later that year, he didn’t hesitate to fly down and see the devastation firsthand. He toured with me, spreading awareness through the Foundation of Goodness, which saw funds pouring in to rebuild shattered lives. Sri Lankans will always be truly grateful for Warnie’s generosity.”

Warne’s brother, Jason, who visited Sri Lanka during the last series to commemorate the legendary leggie, echoed similar sentiments. He recalled how Shane held Sri Lanka in high regard, having taken giant strides in his career on these shores. As a raw youngster on his first overseas tour, Warne announced himself by spinning Australia to a thrilling 16-run victory, defending a modest target of 181 in Colombo – a moment that kick-started his illustrious career.

Courtesy: Telecom Asia