da dobrowin： Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan inspired a dramatic West Indiancollapse on the second day of the opening Test in Galle and then warned thetourists that they are yet to see him at his best
Charlie Austin14-Nov-2001Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan inspired a dramatic West Indiancollapse on the second day of the opening Test in Galle and then warned thetourists that they are yet to see him at his best.Muralitharan, who has been working hard in the nets on a new mysterydelivery designed to counteract pad-thrusting batsmen, claimed 5-21 in theday to finish with 6-125, as West Indies lost their last six wickets for 25."Initially, it was tough, as Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Carl Hooperplayed really well on a really good batting track," he said afterwards,clearly delighted with the turnaround, which had pulled the home team backinto the game."But we always thought that if we could get Lara we could get the otherwickets quickly, as they had some inexperienced batsmen to come.The 29-year-old off-spinner, who has now taken 356 Test wickets in only 67matches, has been receiving ice-treatment on a sore shoulder."I did have a little shoulder injury, which I picked up whilst doingweights," he said. "I had stopped bowling in the nets and struggled inSharjah."Gradually, I started to bowl again. During the first day my rhythm was notquite there, but today it was coming out really nicely. Hopefully, it willget better and better as the series progresses."Muralitharan, ever the optimist, believes Sri Lanka can still win despitethe West Indies piling up 448 in their first innings."Unfortunately, Lara got a big one, but this is a batting wicket and stillwe can get a result if we can make a big score. By the fourth and fifth daythe ball is going to spin a long way."He is particularly looking forward to having another crack at Lara."It is a pleasure to bowl at Brian (Lara)," he said "He is such a wonderfulplayer. Unlike other players he doesn’t have any restrictions and can playshots all-round the wicket, so it is always a challenge to bowl at him.First round to Lara after the Trinidadian superstar smashed a brilliant 178,but Muralitharan warned him: "As a bowler I have an advantage. I can makeseveral mistakes, but if a batsman makes one then he is finished and I win."