CricketViewer.com

Spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan believes he can take 1,000 Test wickets for Sri Lanka before retiring from cricket.

Muralitharan currently has 674 Test wickets, putting him second behind Shane Warne, who now as 704 wickets after taking five-for in the first innings of the fourth Ashes Test match against England on Tuesday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) but will quit after the last Ashes Test at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Muralitharan said: “It’s a tough one. I am 34 now and if I go on for another five years without an injury that’s possible I guess. But it depends on my form, how I feel and a lot of other things. We’ll see.”

He revealed he will cut down on his one-day commitments after the World Cup in 2007. “The workload is huge and there’s no point in playing each and every One-day International (ODI) competition or tournament,” he explained.

“I’ll just cut down on One-day International (ODI) matches. It’s not that I don’t like one-day cricket, but it’s just too hectic,” he explained.

“There are a couple of other spinners and selectors should take a look at them as well. I am really impressed with Malinga Bandara; he’s done a good job for us. Even Rangana Herath was doing well when I was injured. Upul Chandana has come up with some good efforts at ‘A’ team level,” he expressed.

Source:The News