In a country where little details matter the most, fans will sit in anticipation as a Tamil looks to break into the record books on Wednesday. Though the sentiment in Sri Lanka seems a touch different at the moment, Muttiah Muralitharan, who has always been kept away from politics, stands on the threshold — to be precise, three wickets away — of becoming the highest wicket-taker in both versions of the game.

At the nets on Tuesday, Murali picked up the white Kookaburra and bowled with the same zeal and zing as he always does, in every net session, in every international match. Of late, he’s also been pestering skipper Mahela Jayawardene for a higher spot in the batting order after his last-man exploits against Bangladesh. The wily off-spinner is rather keen to occupy the number eight slot — accorded to the best batsman among the bowlers in the Lankan team.

Consistent performer

Muralitharan will eventually get to his record, with the breezy conditions and the small size of the Dambulla ground just a small deterrent. “He is a brilliant bowler. I have seen his career graph, and he has been very consistent. He is a champion bowler,” Dhoni said about Murali on Tuesday. “As far as this series is concerned, we know that he will reach the mark. Hopefully we will give him only a few wickets and play him as well as we played him in the last series.”

Lankan captain Jayawardene finds it difficult to say much about Murali. “It is difficult for me to put his bowling into words. Everyone knows the amount of hard work he has put in over the last 16 years, going through a lot of hardships.

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