Warne hails Murali feat
Muralitharan claimed the landmark dismissal on his home ground of Kandy
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Monday, 03, Dec 2007 10:51
Australian spinner Shane Warne has congratulated Muttiah Muralitharan on surpassing his record to become the leading Test wicket-taker of all time.
Warne, who retired from international cricket after his nation's Ashes win early this year, saw the Sri Lankan reach 709 wickets with the scalp of England's Paul Collingwood in Kandy.
"Congratulations to Murali - he's been a wonderful player for a long period of time," he said.
"He's an excellent competitor and has been great for Sri Lankan cricket. He'll probably go and get 1,000 now."
Muralitharan is 35 years old but Warne believes he has the dedication to set a mark that may never be bettered.
"He has every chance of getting there. If he does I don't think anyone else will catch him."
Muralitharan has already held the mantle for the most Test wickets on a previous occasion when he overtook Courtney Walsh's tally of 519 wickets in 2004.
He was himself overtaken shortly after by Warne, but his recent success will ensure he holds the record for a far longer amount of time.
Warne's congratulations will help put to rest suggestions of lingering hostility between the pair after "miscommunication" was blamed for an public squabble in November.
Muralitharan interpreted comments made by his rival over computer analysis of bowlers' actions as a veiled jibe at his own controversial delivery style.