Post by Salem6 on Jul 13, 2004 18:08:01 GMT
By Greg Buckle
CAIRNS, Australia (Reuters) - Shane Warne has equalled Muttiah Muralitharan's world record of 527 test wickets, but reckons his efforts are better than the Sri Lankan's because it was achieved on unfavourable pitches.
Australia leg spinner Warne took seven wickets on Tuesday in the second test against Sri Lanka which finished in a draw to equal the 32-year-old Muralitharan's world mark.
Warne has played 112 tests, while Muralitharan has 90 caps and missed the two-test series in Australia for personal reasons.
"Look, I'm proud of myself to equal the record. The wickets I have always played on for my whole career, most of them have been to suit fast bowlers in Australia," Warne told a news conference.
"Murali, obviously they prepare wickets that suit him. They spin square from ball one, so he's obviously got a lot more of a chance than I have.
"It would have been nice to get one or two ahead of him and to win the test match would have been the perfect script I suppose," Warne added after Australia fell two wickets short of victory, with Sri Lanka 183 for eight chasing 355 to win.
Warne conceded Muralitharan would now go ahead with the record. Sri Lanka host South Africa for two tests in August, but Warne will have to wait for Australia's four-test tour of India starting in October.
"Who knows what the future holds? He plays most of his test matches in Sri Lanka where they prepare wickets for him so everything is in his favour," Warne said.
"The likelihood is he is probably going to get it and keep it and that's fine. As long as we keep winning, I'll be pretty happy."
Warne said Australia's fast bowling stocks were also much stronger than Sri Lanka's where he said Chaminda Vaas was the only topline seamer. That meant Muralitharan basically bowled from one end all day long.
Warne repeated his comment that if Muralitharan's reason for avoiding touring Australia was because of crowds yelling comments about his controversial bowling action, the off spinner was being "thin-skinned".
"I get heckled from my own crowds sometimes. If he's got a problem with that (Warne's view), well he can sort it out with me if he wants to," Warne said.
"But I've always got along fine with him. I think he's done wonderful things for Sri Lanka and I'm sure he will continue to do that," said Warne, who will appear alongside Muralitharan for a promotion later this week in Melbourne.
Warne, who bowled 37 consecutive overs into a strong wind, said he was happy with his form after bowling too many bad balls in the first innings where he took 3-129.
"It's a pretty proud moment for my parents who are sitting up here in the crowd and they have had a tough time over the past couple of years," Warne said.
The bowler was handed a 12-month doping suspension over a banned diuretic in February 2003 which caused him to miss the World Cup.
www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=5654571&src=eDialog/GetContent§ion=news
CAIRNS, Australia (Reuters) - Shane Warne has equalled Muttiah Muralitharan's world record of 527 test wickets, but reckons his efforts are better than the Sri Lankan's because it was achieved on unfavourable pitches.
Australia leg spinner Warne took seven wickets on Tuesday in the second test against Sri Lanka which finished in a draw to equal the 32-year-old Muralitharan's world mark.
Warne has played 112 tests, while Muralitharan has 90 caps and missed the two-test series in Australia for personal reasons.
"Look, I'm proud of myself to equal the record. The wickets I have always played on for my whole career, most of them have been to suit fast bowlers in Australia," Warne told a news conference.
"Murali, obviously they prepare wickets that suit him. They spin square from ball one, so he's obviously got a lot more of a chance than I have.
"It would have been nice to get one or two ahead of him and to win the test match would have been the perfect script I suppose," Warne added after Australia fell two wickets short of victory, with Sri Lanka 183 for eight chasing 355 to win.
Warne conceded Muralitharan would now go ahead with the record. Sri Lanka host South Africa for two tests in August, but Warne will have to wait for Australia's four-test tour of India starting in October.
"Who knows what the future holds? He plays most of his test matches in Sri Lanka where they prepare wickets for him so everything is in his favour," Warne said.
"The likelihood is he is probably going to get it and keep it and that's fine. As long as we keep winning, I'll be pretty happy."
Warne said Australia's fast bowling stocks were also much stronger than Sri Lanka's where he said Chaminda Vaas was the only topline seamer. That meant Muralitharan basically bowled from one end all day long.
Warne repeated his comment that if Muralitharan's reason for avoiding touring Australia was because of crowds yelling comments about his controversial bowling action, the off spinner was being "thin-skinned".
"I get heckled from my own crowds sometimes. If he's got a problem with that (Warne's view), well he can sort it out with me if he wants to," Warne said.
"But I've always got along fine with him. I think he's done wonderful things for Sri Lanka and I'm sure he will continue to do that," said Warne, who will appear alongside Muralitharan for a promotion later this week in Melbourne.
Warne, who bowled 37 consecutive overs into a strong wind, said he was happy with his form after bowling too many bad balls in the first innings where he took 3-129.
"It's a pretty proud moment for my parents who are sitting up here in the crowd and they have had a tough time over the past couple of years," Warne said.
The bowler was handed a 12-month doping suspension over a banned diuretic in February 2003 which caused him to miss the World Cup.
www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=5654571&src=eDialog/GetContent§ion=news