Muralitharan - "No plans to retire"...how long has he really got?

[Speedboy Salesman]

Originally Posted by Cricinfo

Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lanka spinner, has no plans to retire and intends to play both Test and one-day cricket for at least two more years.

If Muralitharan plays both ODIs and Tests, it surely has a harder effect on the body, and he is 35. Is he really just trying to stick around to beat Shane Warne's record of 708 Test wickets? I mean, the man is certainly one of a kind, his name will be legendary when he does retire, but is it time he really should "quit while he's ahead"? I mean, I doubt there will be a time when the wickets dry up and he's not as effective, partly due to Muralitharan's "aura" of producing greatness, like Warne. Also for Sri Lanka, two regulars for them are no spring chickens: namely Vaas and Jayasuriya. Jayasuriya is 38, how long for him? and Vaas?

[Younis Khan #1]

He looks alot fitter than Warne did at 35.

[Wanderer]

Originally Posted by speedboy

Also for Sri Lanka, two regulars for them are no spring chickens

Hey, Vaas is younger than me! And that means he is still a spring chicken in my eyes . Vaas only turned 34 this year, and with his easy action (and not really injury-prone), I think he can play tfor another 3/4 years...

Jayasuriya I dont' think will play beyond 2007. Murali can play till 40 imo. That means his swansong could also be at a home World Cup.

[arsalan660]

Murali is fit player he can play more because he looks fit as for Jayasuria he should quit now because he is 38 now. and Vaas can play next world cup. IMO Murali is thinking of breaking the WAsim and Warne records by taking most wickets in both ODIs and Tests.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Originally Posted by arsalan660

Murali is thinking of breaking the Wasim and Warne records by taking most wickets in both ODIs and Tests.

The question is, as he gets older will he be as effective? Our will he rely on his reputation for making batsman scared of him?

[Younis Khan #1]

Originally Posted by Speedboy Salesman

The question is, as he gets older will he be as effective? Our will he rely on his reputation for making batsman scared of him?

What would change? He looks fitter than ever. I think he could play on until 38; 40, however is pushing it a bit.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Originally Posted by Younis Khan #1

What would change? He looks fitter than ever. I think he could play on until 38; 40, however is pushing it a bit.

Well you never know what would happen to Muralitharan in years to come, arm problems, arthritis like Warne, for instance.

[Younis Khan #1]

Originally Posted by Speedboy Salesman

Well you never know what would happen to Muralitharan in years to come, arm problems, arthritis like Warne, for instance.

But that could happen to any player regardless of their age. Indeed, the older you get the more you are prone to injuries, but Murali keeps himself very fit and he appears to be enjoying his cricket more than ever beofore. At 37 Warne looked ragged and unfit. Murali looks in excellent shape, so i believe that by the time the latter makes it to Warne's age, he will be more effective than the great bleach blonde was.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Originally Posted by Younis Khan #1

he will be more effective than the great bleach blonde was.

That's a serious claim to make! Muralitharan isn't got the extra "podge" that Warne had towards the end of his career, but I'm worried with a bowling action as unnatural as Murali's, injuries may pile up.

[Younis Khan #1]

Originally Posted by Speedboy Salesman

That's a serious claim to make! Muralitharan isn't got the extra "podge" that Warne had towards the end of his career, but I'm worried with a bowling action as unnatural as Murali's, injuries may pile up.

It may be unnatural, but it is how his body is structured. So his action maybe as equally harmful in the latter stages of life as say mine or your's. He doesn't seem to be in any discomfort; he just performs his run up with the up most energy for each and every delivery. Whereas if you look at warne, his body looked as if it culd collapse at any moment. Another example of Murali's fitness were his acrobatic catches this World Cup. I really do think fitness and motivation are the key to a prolonged career.