Australian cricket coach John Buchanan figures it should be quite a duel — Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne head-to-head in a two-Test series in July in northern Australia.
Muralitharan eclipsed West Indian Courtney Walsh’s record mark of 519 wickets with eight wickets in Sri Lanka’s first-Test victory over Zimbabwe in Harare.
Warne, to tour Zimbabwe later this month, sits four wickets behind but is set to face the Sri Lankan off-spinner, who now has 521 wickets, when Australia and Sri Lanka meet in Tests in Darwin beginning July 1 and in Cairns a week later.
Muralitharan bowled his controversial ”doosra” throughout the innings and 240-run win, picking up two wickets with it, including Zimbabwean captain Tatenda Taibu.
Buchanan, who has supported Muralitharan’s suspect bowling action in the past, on Monday again defended the Sri Lankan bowler against claims of throwing.
”He’s a class bowler and class bowlers should be able to bowl how they see fit,” he said on Monday in Brisbane during a three-day preparation camp for the Zimbabwe tour.
”The ICC [International Cricket Council] have cleared him from any suspect action. Obviously they have reviewed him recently but that’s been more of a grease-and-oil change more then anything else.
”He’s just an exciting player as we’ve seen in the recent Sri Lankan-Australia series. The battle between he and Shane Warne and our batsmen is exhilarating stuff.”
Buchanan said he expected Muralitharan’s record had further ”fuelled the fires” of Warne.
He said the Australian side — to play two Tests and three one-day internationals — will conduct their four-week tour with a clear conscience despite the fragile political climate in Zimbabwe.
Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill failed to make himself available on moral grounds and veteran batsman Darren Lehmann has admitted the players have concerns with touring.
”I wouldn’t think there is any concern,” Buchanan said.
”Cricket Australia and virtually all the information we have from a security point of view has allayed anybody’s fears. I’m sure every player and all of us think about the issues and have come their own conclusions but in the end we’re invited there as cricketers.”
The 10 home-based members of the Australian Test side leave on Thursday for Zimbabwe where they will meet up with Warne, Lehmann and Michael Kasprowicz, who will travel from England where they are playing county cricket. — Sapa-AP