Muttiah Muralidaran - Test
cricket ’s greatest wicket-
taker - has dealt Cricket
Australia ’s blueprint for
spin reform a savage blow
after backflipping on plans to
mentor the country ’s next
generation of tweakers.
As the Sri Lankan wizard
prepares to torment
Australia in their ICC World
Cup clash on Saturday, it can
be revealed Muralidaran has
turned his back at the 11th
hour on a coaching cameo at
the Brisbane-based Centre
of Excellence, reports The
Courier-Mail from Australia,
quoting Muralitharan ’s
manager.
The controversial 38-year-old
had intimated his desire to
tutor Australia ’s next crop of
emerging spinners in June,
but rocked Cricket Australia
by opting to play Twenty20
cricket instead in India and
England.
Muralidaran’s snub comes at
the worst time for Australian
cricket, which is conducting a
sweeping
performance review,
including addressing the
nation ’s depleted slow
bowling stocks that have led
to Test selectors deploying 10
spinners since Shane Warne ’s
retirement in 2007.
Speaking exclusively to The
Courier-Mail, Muralidaran ’s
manager confirmed the spin
legend would not
visit Australia because of
commitments with IPL side
Kochi and county side
Gloucestershire.
“Unfortunately, Murali will
not be able to make it,”
agent Kushil Gunasekera
said.
“Cricket Australia wanted
him to come down in a
particular period of time, but
it doesn ’t go down well
with the IPL and his
Gloucestershire
assignments. ”
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