By Keira Daley

22 July 2010

The President of Sri Lanka, HE Mahinda Rajapaksa, has today congratulated Muttiah Muralitharan on becoming the first bowler in history to take 800 wickets in Test cricket, as he retired from the game today. The Sri Lankan began the match against India, his 133^rd Test, having taken 792 career Test wickets. Effective bowling forced the visitors side to follow on and Muralitharan’s haul included Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, taking him to 800 wickets in his Test career.

“Sri Lanka is proud of this son of our soil, who has reached the greatest height as a bowler with his new record, winning the highest respect of his contemporaries in the game the world over,” said Rajapaksa, congratulating Murali on his world record.

Muli, as he is affectionately known, a Tamil by birth, has also taken 515 wickets in 337 one-day internationals, and a further 13 in Twenty20 internationals. His controversial bowling style has added to his international reputation leading to many comments on his unique bent-arm action.

Away from the international game, he has had spells with English counties Kent and Lancashire, and also starred for Chennai Super Kings in the lucrative Indian Premier League – taking 1-17 from his four overs as Chennai won this year’s IPL final.

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