A slow bowler's quick feat

THE EFFORT that he puts into each and every delivery of his is simply amazing. A glutton for work, bowling long spells (average of 53 overs per Test match) has been part of his everyday business: his captains have relied on him totally and this off- spinner enjoys it. With his variety he seldom goes wicket-less.

There has been none like him, unless, of course, Muttiah Muralitharan has a twin who bowls in the same manner. There will be enough questions in a batsman's mind when he plays him - about the fairness of the action as much as the prodigal turn he derives. But since his action has been passed as legitimate, this issue must be laid to rest.

The year that went by saw quite a few bowlers, almost all of them pacemen, reaching various milestones in Test cricket - from Courtney Walsh inching his way to the 500-wicket mark to Glenn McGarth making the 300-wicket club en route a hat-trick. And at the end of the year we had Murali, the affable Sri Lankan, becoming the 17th member of the 300-wicket club, at Durban.

What makes him special, from the rest, of course, is that he is a spin bowler, only the third in the elite club after West Indian Lance Gibbs, an off-spinner of rare breed, and the wizard leg- spinner Shane Warne. This naturally makes him the first slow bowler from the sub- continent to reach the mark.

From the time he made his debut in 1992-93, Murali, a Tamil born, has flabbergasted one and all with his width of spin. He achieved the 300-wicket mark in 58 Tests. Only Dennis Lillee achieved the feat in lower number of matches. Murali has taken five or more wickets in an innings 24 times and 10 or more wickets in a match five times, ample proof of his appetite for `kills' in large numbers. His Test best is the nine for 65 at The Oval for match- figure of 16 for 220. He has also claimed 211 wickets in limited overs internationals, the best being the record seven for 30, against India in Sharjah.

Crafty Murali is a thinker, who backs his spin, probably the biggest tweak ever, and because of his deformity, otherwise an asset, is unable to push the ball through or bowl the out-cutter. If he bowls a leg- break he should be more interesting, because he can. He breaks his wrist before bringing his fingers into use, and is probably the only off-spinner ever to bowl with the back of his hand facing the batsman.

Murali is essentially a different bowler from Saqlain Mushtaq, for the Pakistani purveyor, a great bowler in his own right, has break and not spin and uses the crease more and in a better manner. But Saqlain's `doosra' to many eyes is a questionable delivery and has to be bowled with a bent arm straightening, which is all about throwing.

Talking about the other off-spinner in the club, Gibbs, the first spinner to take 300, was much taller, though he was capable of being flighty on good pitches. He finished near his belly button, bringing in a lot of over-spin. He bowled a finger-spun leg- break. Not wrist breaking first. On a helpful pitch, like S. Venkatraghavan, he could drop his loop and `hit' for purchase. He displayed better accuracy and control than either Murali or Saqlain - never easily collared by quick-footed batsmen.

Murali has said that he aspires to reach the 500-wicket mark. A lofty scale, no doubt, but the Lankan spinner is just 28 years old and has age on his side.

SANJAY RAJAN

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