Murali's best in Sri Lanka

By Mohandas Menon

** Sri Lankan pace bowler Dulip Liyanage created a record of sorts when he made a comeback to the side after missing 62 Tests since his last also against India at Lucknow way back in January 1994. This was by far the longest comebacks in terms of years and Tests by a Sri Lankan player. The previous record of missing maximum Test matches while making a comeback was held by former left-arm spinner Don Anurasiri who missed 27 Tests between 1993- 94 to 1997-98 for Sri Lanka. Incidentally, Liyanage's feat now occupies the joint 14th position in Test cricket history. The record remains with Pakistani Younis Ahmed who had missed 104 Test matches between 1969 and 1987.

** The wicket of Kaif was Chaminda Vaas' 150th of his career in his 51st match. He now becomes the second Sri Lankan (after Murali) and the 67th bowler to reach this landmark in Test cricket history. However Vaas has the distinction of becoming the only fourth genuine left-arm pace bowler in over 124 years of Test cricket to take over 150 Test wickets after Pakistani Wasim Akram (414 wickets in 102 matches); Australians Alan Davidson (186 in 44) and Bill Johnston (160 in 40).

** Muthiah Muralitharan (8-87) became the seventh bowler to take eight or more wickets against India in Tests. The full list: 9-95 - Jack Noreiga for WI at Port of Spain in March 1971; 8-31 - Fred Trueman for Eng. at Manchester in July 1952; 8-38 - Lance Gibbs for WI at Bridgetown in March 1962; 8-60- Imran Khan for Pak. at Karachi in Dec. 1982 ; 8-64- Lance Klusener for SA at Calcutta in Nov.1996 ; 8-69- Sikhander Bakht for Pak. at Delhi in Dec.1979; 8-87 - Muthiah Muralitharan for SL at Colombo (SSC) Aug.2001

Note: Noreiga, Gibbs and Murali were all off-spinners, while the rest were pace bowlers.

** Muralitharan's figures are not only the best at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground but are the best bowling performance by any Test bowler on Sri Lankan soil. The previous best of 7-84 was held by the bowler himself at Galle against South Africa in July 2000.

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