Magical milestone

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP):

Muttiah Muralitharan claimed his 800th Test wicket with his final ball in cricket's traditional format to cap a career that easily could have been derailed in 1995.

In a venue closer to home and a long time removed from his infamous trouble 15 years ago at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 38-year-old Muralitharan, a chirpy but quietly spoken Sri Lankan, set a mark for Test wickets that surely will stand for a considerable time when he removed India tailender Pragyan Ojha yesterday to reach the milestone.

In 133 Test matches, Muralitharan took 800 wickets, conceding an average of 22 runs per wicket and bowling 55 balls per wicket.

He said he had no regrets quitting the game after his dream send-off.

"Frankly, I have done it and that's enough - this was the only thing I was thinking," Muralitharan said.

"God gave me everything, not only victory, eight wickets and everything (in the final Test). I think this is one of the greatest moments of my cricketing career."

There was a carnival atmosphere for Muralitharan's final Test. Large cut-outs of the bowler stood on a 17th-century Dutch fort overlooking the ground and verses thanking and praising him for his epic career were displayed around the stadium.

India and Sri Lanka players formed a guard of honour while fireworks were set off after every wicket Muralitharan took. On the last day, he was given a red-carpet welcome to the ground.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was present during the lunch break yesterday to present a momento to the bowler, while the Galle District Cricket Association presented him with a gem-studded ivory carving of an elephant.

Muralitharan's family, parents and representatives from his old school were all present and brass bands from Galle schools performed for him.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara called Muralitharan the greatest bowler to play the game.

"For me, leading a side minus Muralitharan is a huge loss," Sangakkara said. "I don't think anyone is going to take eight-fors or nine-fors for us. But we'll share the wickets and do the hard work to get there."

Muralitharan, however, said that Sri Lanka were well equipped to cope with his departure from Test cricket.

The end

"There are good young spin bowlers - you won't miss me much," he said. "Ajantha (Mendis) is bowling better and better now and Suraj Randiv is good and Rangana (Herath) is good.

"Three spinners and only two can play. So if I am there I am blocking some 25-year-old. There is nothing more for me to achieve, so I thought this should be the end."

The fairy-tale finish to Murali-tharan's Test career set Sri Lanka on course for a comfortable 10-wicket victory over India but, more important, inscribed his name on another record that his supporters will cherish for generations, but which critics will put an asterisk beside for as long as Test cricket exists.

Australia's Shane Warne, Muralitharan's long-time adversary, is the only other bowler in more than 120 years of Test cricket to amass more than 619 wickets. Warne retired with 708, a record Muralitharan surpassed in December 2007.

Born to a confectionery businessman on April 17, 1972, Muralitharan first came to attention in 1990 as a schoolboy bowler who could spin the ball sharply.

His exceptional ability to turn the ball comes from his unorthodox wristy off spin, and a permanently bent elbow attributed to a birth defect. That bent joint has been central to the conjecture over his bowling action for almost two decades.

Muralitharan made his Test debut at home against Australia in 1992, but it wasn't until his first tour to Australia that he hit the international headlines.