Murali to retire from Tests

Sri Lankan cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan will retire from all international test cricket after the first Test against India that is scheduled to be played in Galle from July 18 to 22.

Although Murali will no longer play after the first match of the three-Test series, he has kept open the option of playing the 2011 ODI World Cup, to be co-hosted by Sri Lanka along with India and Bangladesh.

"World's leading wicket-taker and champion spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has decided to retire from Test cricket after the first Test in Galle against India," Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

"Muralitharan has had discussions with the national selectors, Sri Lankan Cricket officials and has had the blessings of President Mahinda Rajapakse and the Minister of Sports C B Ratnayake," the statement said, cited by news agencies. 

One of the greatest spinners in the world today, Muttiah Muralitharan is the best player in Sri Lankan history and easily one of the best in the world. Murali averages nearly six wickets per Test which makes him one of the most successful bowlers of all time. He is the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket and the first to pick up a stunning 1000 international wickets. The spin-wizard is capable of bowling marathon spells and has variety of deliveries up his sleeves to fool he batsman. Despite bowling for hours together you will always find him attacking and this perhaps makes him as deadly as he is. Very often he has been called the 'Smiling Assassin' because of his trademark toothy grin. Murali's career has not been without controversy, with his bowling action been called into question on a number of occasions by umpires. Shane Warne and Murali in particular were always in cut-throat competition until the Australian retired. The off-spinner who played an instrumental role in Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup victory was the Wisden Cricketer of the year 1999.