Galle (Sri Lanka), July 17 (IANS) World record holder spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, on the eve of his last cricket Test, said Saturday that it was just another match for him.
The first Test of the three-match series against India starts Sunday in this sea side town that has always been special for Muralitharan.
‘I can’t say it’s a big match. Just another match and it is going to be the last match for me. I have been happy with the way I have played in the last 18-19 years. Hopefully, I will do well and get a good result for Sri Lanka and retire very well. That’s the whole plan,’ Muralitharan, who is eight wickets short of 800 Test wickets, said at the pre-match press conference.
But Muralitharan is not thinking too much about the figures, he wants to enjoy for one last time.
‘If I do not get a single wicket or if I get five wickets, I will (still) be very happy. I will try all my tricks in the middle for the last time. Let’s see if it works or not. I am going to really enjoy the game rather than think about how many wickets I am going to need. Just enjoy the game and not put much pressure on myself,’ he said.
All the stands at the Galle International Stadium have placards bearing the name of this legendary Sri Lankan cricketer.
But Muralitharan is not overwhelmed by the atmosphere.
‘I would like to thank the cricket board and the groundsman (Jayananda Warnaweera) for arranging such a great thing in Galle. It is a great honour for me to retire like this,’ he said.
Muralitharan admits that he never expected a grand farewell.
‘I never dreamt I would be finishing like this. I think I had a great finish because I have done very well in Test cricket. You can’t get the record easily; so many people have tried and I am the best at the moment. Because of that, I have no regrets.
‘God has given me everything, I am fulfilled with that. I am not sad, I am very happy with what I have achieved and I am glad I am going out in a good manner because people are not asking me to go. They are asking me to stay. Still I want to go because this is the manner I want to go out in. I am not dreaming about any past performance or anything. I am thinking only about the next match, finish well and retire properly,’ he said.
Muralitharan said he will try all his tricks for the last time to spin Sri Lanka to a win.
‘If I could take eight in the first innings, Sri Lanka will win easily. It is not going to be easy, they have such a good batting line-up. I will try all my tricks in the middle for the last time. Let’s see if it works or not. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I am going to really enjoy the game rather than thinking about how many wickets I am going to need. Just enjoy the game and not put much pressure on myself. If I didn’t get a single wicket or if I take five wickets, I will be very happy,’ he said.
