Do you think that Muttiah Muralitharan will play for longer now that..?

Question

Ajantha Mendis is around.

Before Muralitharan was bowling most of Sri Lanka's overs in test matches and surely that had to strain his body.

BUT

Now that Mendis is here, Muralitharan will have less work to do, meaning that he has less chance of being injured or tired.

Do you think Murali will play for longer?

If so can he reach 1000 test wickets?

Answer 1

he is a great bowler.......he will be a legend for on and on but now he is getting older so we cant expect wat we had expected 5 years ago.........he might not play for the world cup but if he is in form he should.........he has been a great strength to the lankan cricket team and he will still be recognised  

Answer 2

he would play till 2011

Answer 3

yes he can. but if he want to

Answer 4

I kind of think he will. It is a great thing for him to have the younster to help out.I don't think Murali will get 1,000 wkts though. BTW, what happened to Malinga? Haven't seen him for a while.

Answer 5

When Murali was on his own, he got the lion's share of wickets Sri Lanka managed to pick up. Now it is not going to be case. It has to be shared  between the two. And what if Sri Lanka is playing in not-so-spinner-friendly track, they have to drop one spinner. If Mendis proves to be good in unfriendly conditions, Murali will not be able to find a place in the playing 11.

Needs to be seen how long Murali plays cricket. 244 wickets to go for 1000 test wickets. On an average he needs to play about 40 matches (6.156 wickets / match for Murali), But with Mendis around it will take about 50 matches. So if Sri Lanka plays 13 tests / year on average (I don't think Sri Lanka will be playing 13 a year), it will take 3¾ years to achieve that. By then Murali will be 40. What is your take, will he still be playing?

Answer 6

Will Murali play for longer?

Of course he will, you couldn't stop him even if you wanted to. Mendis is still young and i don't think he should be as heavily relied on as he is. In the 3rd and 4th ODI against India Mendis found it a little hard, and he wasn't so much of a mystery, but he's still growing and there's a big future for him, he certainly has the potential, but he shouldn't be pushed.

I think getting 1000 test wickets is absolutely achievable for Murali, he'll want to fight for it and i hope he gets there because he certainly deserves it. I don't think there has ever been a bowler who has had to cop so much insults and criticism over his bowling, he's had to fight all of it. He's an inspiration.

I have to add in... I was a dam proud supporter yesterday, our youngsters did me so proud. Warnapura and Udawatte really should be brought in to open on a daily basis and Thushara and Mubarak playing at number 6 and 7 gave us that extra batting strength. A comprehensive win, we left with our pride in tact.

Answer 7

i think he'll definitely play for longer and get more total wickets than he wud have normally....but since he will bowl less overs now his average wickets per game will go down...like we were used to seeing him take a large chunk of sri lankan wickets...wont happen now as mendis wud be taking some of them too

i dont think he'll get 1000 wickets tho....he'd had have to be amazingly fit to do that

Answer 8

Although there will be less overs to bowl the general ware and tear his body has suffered over his career will probably force him into retirement sooner rather than later.