Muralitharan finds support all round

The National staff

• Last Updated: November 22. 2009 10:56PM UAE / November 22. 2009 6:56PM GMT

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the rival camp's captain, has defended the performance of Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan in last week’s first Test.

A flat wicket saw the 37-year-old spinner, Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker, claim just three wickets in 63.5 overs in the high-scoring draw in Ahmedabad.

“If you see Muralitharan was in the opposition side, he is the greatest we will see, even he didn’t get the bounce or turn he is known for,” said MS Dhoni.

“The flatness of the pitch completely neutralised the spinners’ efforts in the game,” added the former India captain, Saurav Ganguly.

“Looking at the way Muralitharan bowled on day five and the amount of turn he got from the pitch, I would not be wrong in saying one more Test match could probably [have been] played on this wicket.”

Muralitharan will also be looking to improve his modest record in India when the second Test begins in Kanpur tomorrow.

His world record 787 Test wickets have come at an average of 22.41, but his 34 wickets in nine Tests in India have come at 42.58 runs apiece.

Muralitharan has announced he will retire from Test cricket next year, and this series is his last away from Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka could include leg spinner Ajantha Mendis for the second match after left-arm Rengana Herath was surprisingly picked ahead of him in Ahmedabad.

Mendis, 24, grabbed 26 wickets to help clinch a 2-1 home series win over India last year and could prove effective even on a slow pitch.

The winner of this series will take top spot in the Test world rankings ahead of South Africa, with Mumbai staging the third and final Test starting on December 2.

sports@thenational.ae