Sri Lanka’s spin wizard and the world’s highest wicket-taker, Muttiah Muralitharan, has thrown his weight behind the home side, backing them to turn the tables on number one ranked Australia in the upcoming two-match Test series.
Despite the series being a dead rubber – given that the finalists for the World Test Championship are already decided – Sri Lanka are eager to reclaim the Warne-Murali Trophy, which slipped through their fingers in 2019.
Muralitharan, who is set to grace Galle and hand over the coveted trophy named after himself and the late spin maestro Shane Warne, believes Sri Lanka’s recent resurgence bodes well for their chances.
Speaking to Telecom Asia Sport, Murali said “I’ll be in Galle for the last two days of the series, and I strongly believe Sri Lanka can win. Our track record in Galle speaks for itself, and more importantly, the team has turned a corner in recent months. Since Sanath Jayasuriya took over as Head Coach, they’ve addressed crucial shortcomings and started winning consistently. Even in defeat, they put up a fight, which is a clear sign of progress. It’s refreshing to see”
Murali pointed to Sri Lanka’s biggest trump card – the spinning tracks in Galle – where the home side knows the terrain like the back of their hand.
“The pitch will turn, and that plays right into our strengths. However, my only concern is if it starts spinning from ball one, the toss could become the ultimate decider. That shouldn’t be the case – cricket is a game of skill, not a lottery. If the pitch behaves, Sri Lanka have the ability to take the game deep and outlast Australia. It’s going to be an exciting battle”
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