Cricket Special Report: Who will be the legendary Murali’s successor
No one thought about it for nearly two decades but the question is out now. Can http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 be the same team without Muralitharan, than it was during his playing days? The question may require a lot of debate but the fact remains that the majestic off spinner was one of his kind, and played more part in victories for his country, than all bowlers combined.
He took 800 wickets in his 133 test match career, yet he had to retire finally. Sri Lanka has many bowlers who can go on and win matches for them, yet to find Murali’s successor would be very difficult. Some of the players who might step in for the time being have the ability to take some wickets in the tradition of Muralitharan, if not like him.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755. The Indians under-estimated him, or rather over-estimated their own abilities to handle his deliveries, which came out as an off-spin, turned like a leg-spin and bamboozled all, as any bowler would like. He was equally successful against them in Tests and one dayers, taking wickets at will, even in the presence of Muralitharan.
His 6 for 13 in a one day match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 is his best bowling performance while he earned the man of the series award in the Asia Cup for his 17 wickets, against teams like Pakistan and India. His first Test series was also a success, where he returned with match figures of 8-132 on debut, which was followed by more wickets, giving him 26 wickets in his debut series, the most by any bowler in the history of the game.
He also won the Emerging Player of the Year award at the ICC Awards ceremony in Dubai in 2008, for his outstanding contribution to the game, that too in his first year. Although his form deteriorated after his initial success, he is likely to spearhead the feared Sri Lankan spin department which needs a successor to Muralitharan.
Another bowler who is in the race to take the mantle of Muralitharan’s successor is Suraj Randiv, the off-spinner, who gradually achieved his place in the senior side after successfully representing the under-age sides in Sri Lanka. He made his debut last year for the national side and took 3 wickets in Murali’s absence. He was then part of the Twenty20 side to the Caribbean, where he did well in whatever opportunities he got. With Murali out of the picture, he is one of the players who can give Ajantha Mendis a run for the vacant place in the side.
There are also Rangana Herath and Jeewan Mendis, who are all-rounders. While Herath has proved his mettle as a left-hand batsman and a left-arm spinner in the test format, Jeewan Mendis hasn’t played any. He, however, made his One Day International debut against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 in a tri-series game in Bulawayo this year, playing alongside Ajantha Mendis. He took 4 wickets in the 4 matches and also scored 42 valuable runs as a batsman. His batting may give him an edge over others but he has to master his leg spin bowling if he is to overtake Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv are possible successors of Muralitharan. Muralitharan hunted in pair with another spinner during his career. His partners ranged from players like Kumara Dharmasena, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Ajantha Mendis. If the selectors want Sri Lanka to prosper in Test cricket, they might even opt for two of the four aforementioned bowlers. Who knows they might spin their magic and become regular members like Murali was!
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