Sri Lanka cricketing legend Muttiah Muralitharan said that he is worried about the future of Test cricket. Muralitharan, who played 133 Test matches and remains one of the game's greatest bowlers, holds the record for the most wickets in Test cricket with an unmatched 800.
The legendary spinner reckoned that his 800 Test wickets are unlikely to be surpassed due to the evolving nature of the sport. He also highlighted the achievements of two veteran spinners Australia's Nathan Lyon, who has taken 530 wickets, and India's Ravichandran Ashwin, with 516 wickets in the format.
"I am definitely worried about Test cricket. Every country will play maybe only six or seven Test matches. England and Australia might play the Ashes. But in some other countries, not many people are watching. There will be very little Test cricket,” Muralitharan told the Daily Mail.
"It's very hard (for someone to surpass 800 Test wickets), because emphasis has shifted to short-form cricket. Also, we played for 20 years. Careers are shorter now," he added.
ALSO READ: Mayank Rawat tonks LSG's Ayush Badoni for 5 sixes in last over of innings in Delhi Premier League final; watch video
ALSO READ: 'From being troll-ed to taking full con-trol': RCB reacts to their pace trio's selection in India's Test squad for Bangladesh
Additionally, Muttiah Muralitharan discussed Sri Lanka's recent performance in their series against England. While Sri Lanka lost the first two Tests, they secured a historic victory at The Oval in the third and final Test, resulting in a 1-2 series loss. Remarkably, Sri Lanka's last win at The Oval was in 1998, a match in which Muralitharan played a pivotal role in their 10-wicket triumph.
Muralitharan also opined about the recently concluded three-Test match series between Sri Lanka and England. England won the first two matches of the series and Sri Lanka clinched a historic win at the Oval in the third and final Test of the series to settle with a 1-2 loss. Notably, Sri Lanka's last win at the Oval came way back in 1998, when Muralitharan played a key role in his team's 10-wicket victory.
Talking of the recent series, Muralitharan opined that the side’s subpar showing has been due to them not playing Tests consistently. “Consistency is the problem. It’s not about how good they are, because they all are talented. The only thing is how can they become experienced? Nowadays, it’s difficult. There are too many tournaments and things in their heads,” he said.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
India secures 5-1 victory over Japan, clinches second straight win in Asian Champions Trophy 2024
