At Galle, against ‘world’s best’ side, Murali will call it quits this month

Muttiah Muralitharan, the world's leading wicket-taker, has decided to quit Test cricket after the first Test against India from July 18 to 22 at Galle. The right-arm off-spinner who has played 132 Tests since making his debut in 1992, is currently 8 short of 800 Test wickets.

"I think somehow (my last Test) had to be against India, they are the No.1 team in the world at present and to leave the stage after playing against the best will give a perfect way of ending my Test career," Murali told The Indian Express over the phone from Colombo.

"And hopefully, I will be able to get the eight wickets in that game that will take me to 800 wickets, but if not, I am more than satisfied with what I set out (to achieve) and what I have achieved," he added.

Murali has a special connection with Galle and its cricket stadium, which he helped rebuild after it was devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. "Galle is special to me," he said. "I don't know if the Galle Stadium will be full to watch me in action, but I hope they will come to bid me farewell. The people have always given me more than I can imagine and yes, I think the team and the fans will make my last Test match special."

The 38-year-old master, who plays in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings and is married to Chennai girl Madhimalar Ramamurthy, has been hinting at retirement, especially since his great contemporaries, Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya have also now bid adieu to the longer version of the game.

Murali discussed his retirement with skipper Kumar Sangakkara and chairman of selectors Aravinda De Silva over the weekend. "I wanted to leave on a high note, with my performance up to the standards I expect of myself, and without forcing the team to carry me along. I have been thinking about it for some time and I thought the time has now come when I should quit Test cricket," he said.

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