| Name | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| Nickname | Murali |
| Profession | Cricket Player |
| Date of Birth | 17th April 1972 |
| Birth Place | Nattaranpotta, Kundasale in Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| Height | 5’7″ |
| Weight | 60 Kg |
| Nationality | Srilankan |
| Marriage Date | March 21, 2005 |
| Family | Father – Sinnasamy Muttiah (Businessman) Mother – Lakshmi Wife – Madhimalar Son – Naren Grandfather (Paternal) – Periyasamy Sinasamy Father-in-law – Dr S. Ramamurthy Mother-in-law – Dr Nithya Ramamurthy |
| Education | College – St Anthony’s College, Katugastota |
| Major teams | Sri Lanka, Asia XI, Chennai Super Kings, ICC World XI, Kandurata, Kent, Lancashire, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club |
| Style | Batting : Right-hand bat Bowling : Right hand off-breaks |
| Debut | Smiling Assassin |
| Trademark | Toothy grin |
| Considered as | Greatest off-spin bowler in cricket history |
| Chief weapons | * Big-spinning off-break * Two versions of the top-spinner * Super-flexible wrist * Special ball ‘Doosra’ spins in the opposite direction to his stock ball. |
| Controversy about his bowling | * In 1996 the ICC cleared him after biomechanical analysis at the University of Western Australia and at the University of Hong Kong. * It was concluded that his action created the ‘optical illusion of throwing’. * He was called for chucking on the 1998-99 tour to Australia and cleared again. |
| Ambassador for | United Nations World Food Program |
| Early dream | Reaching 700 test wickets |
| Quote | “The best thing we can give children is education. This will equip them when they grow up to become full citizens of their country” |
| About him | Simon Barnes: “Muralitharan is a truly great cricketer.” Madhimalar (Wife): |
| Records | * The highest number of international wickets in Tests and ODIs * The most 10-wicket hauls in a match at Test level (20). * Only player to take 10 wickets/match against every Test playing nation. * The most 5-wicket hauls in an innings at Test level (60). * Fastest to 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650 and 700 Test wickets, in terms of matches played. * Only player to take 10 wickets in a Test in four consecutive matches and he has achieved this feat twice. * Only player to take 50 or more wickets against every Test playing nation. * He and Jim Laker (England) are the only bowlers to have taken atleast 9 wickets in a Test innings twice. * Only bowler to take 7 wickets in an innings against the most countries (5). * He and Jacques Kallis are the only bowlers to receive the most number of ‘Man of the Match’ awards in test cricket (18). * Third player to take more than 700 test wickets. * First spinner to reach 746 Test wickets. * Second in the list of all time wicket takers in both Test cricket and One-Day International cricket. * First player to pick up a stunning 1000 international wickets. |
| Facts | * He is a Sri Lankan Tamil whose origin is in India. * His Grandfather came to Sri Lanka to work in Tea Plantations. * His father is involved in making biscuits. * His wife has done MBS and she is Director In Charge of Malar Hospital, Chennai, TamilNadu. * He became the quickest bowler from any county to achieve 100 Championship wickets, after playing just 12 matches. * He was named as the leading player in the world by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack (2006). |
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