Mumbai, <keyword id="2727" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Dravid" source="Orion">Rahul Dravid</keyword> features in <keyword id="26689" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="muttiah-muralitharan" source="Orion">Muttiah Muralitharan</keyword>'s list of great batters who could not find a way to read him. Speaking at an event here on Tuesday, Muralitharan said while several Indian batters including <keyword id="6354267" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sachin-tendulkar" source="Orion">Sachin Tendulkar</keyword>, <keyword id="7567" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="virender-sehwag" source="Orion">Virender Sehwag</keyword> and <keyword id="13839" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gautam-gambhir" source="Orion">Gautam Gambhir</keyword> read his bowling, current India head coach Dravid did not. "He (Sachin Tendulkar) read me very well. Not many people can do (that). (Brian) Lara had success but he never hit me also," Muralitharan said during the trailer launch trailer of his biopic titled '800'. "I know a few people, like Rahul Dravid, he is one of the greatest players but he never read me. Sachin and (Virender Sehwag) and (Gautam) Gambhir would read. Even in my team some people read and some did not." The legendary Tendulkar, who was present on the occasion, recalled his first meeting with the spin wizard. "I remember meeting him for the first time in 1992-93, and we have continued to be good friends. "He just loved bowling and the whole world knew he had a big turner. You make him bowl on an expressway and he would turn the ball. No matter how the surface is. "He had developed the 'doosra' but spent a lot of time practicing it in the nets. For 18 months he continued practicing the 'doosra' in the nets before he bowled the first ball in international cricket. The reason for that was he should not lose his original strengths and the qualities that he possessed," Tendulkar added. Muralitharan returned the compliment. "What he (Sachin) has done in cricket, nobody can do. It is a fact. It is impossible for someone to get into First-Class cricket at 15 years, getting a Test hundred at 16-17 years (of age). Another Sachin Tendulkar won't be born in my life (time)," Muralitharan added.

Rahul Dravid is among all time greats but he could never read me: Muralitharan

Dubai, The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket (<keyword id="6354756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bcci" source="Orion">BCCI</keyword>) have joined forces to unveil a new campaign ahead of the <keyword id="6974355" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="icc-mens-cricket-world-cup" source="Orion">ICC Men's Cricket World Cup</keyword> in India later this year. The 'It Takes One Day' campaign was launched in Mumbai on Thursday just 77 days out from the first match at this year's World Cup, with the campaign aiming to connect fans across the world to the 'Navarasa' which symbolises the nine emotions fans most commonly experience during a cricket match. A film featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan - along with renowned cricketers JP Duminy, Shubman Gill, Dinesh Karthik, current World Cup winning captain Eoin Morgan, <keyword id="26689" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="muttiah-muralitharan" source="Orion">Muttiah Muralitharan</keyword>, <keyword id="86138" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jonty-rhodes" source="Orion">Jonty Rhodes</keyword> and Jemimah Rodrigues - was released in conjunction with the campaign launch and showcases many decorated moments in the history of the Men's Cricket World Cup. The campaign displays the journey of raw emotions experienced by both players and fans collectively over One Day, with the film connecting the nine 'Navarasa' emotions - anguish, bravery, glory, joy, passion, power, pride, respect and wonder - and explores how it takes one day to experience this rollercoaster. ICC CEO Geoff Allardice was thrilled to launch the campaign and is eagerly awaiting the commencement of the World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 5. "This campaign is a true celebration of One Day International cricket and builds a sense of anticipation of what we can expect when the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 returns to India. The emotions, or Navarasa, are felt by fans and players alike during One Day and this campaign brings to life that shared experience," Allardice said in a statement. "Cricket and cinema are at the heart of Indian psyche, and we've infused the two to create appeal far and wide. The involvement of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan together with an exceptional line-up of cricketers will only help us deepen our connect in this country, while captivating the attention worldwide." BCCI secretary Jay Shah echoed Allardice's sentiments. "The ODI format holds an unparalleled significance with its ability to deliver thrilling moments, intense battles, and unpredictable outcomes that will truly captivate fans globally. As we embark on this journey, we are proud to see the launch of the Men's Cricket World Cup campaign and create real excitement for the event across the world," he said. "We are fully committed to creating a world-class event that will witness the birth of a new generation of heroes, providing fans with unforgettable experiences and we believe the campaign does this. The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 in India will be a celebration of cricketing excellence, cultural diversity, and the unifying spirit of the game." --IANS cs

Shah Rukh Khan, Muttiah Muralitharan, other cricket greats feature in new ICC Men's Cricket World Cup campaign

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47816764.cms" /> Cricket has seen many greats come and go, but very few would argue that anyone came close to <keyword id="6354267" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sachin-Tendulkar">Sachin Tendulkar</keyword>. The Indian batting maestro has been voted the 'Best <keyword id="17665" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Test-Player">Test player</keyword>' of the 21st century in an online poll conducted by <keyword id="44302" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Cricket-Australia">Cricket Australia</keyword>'s website. 

	The former India skipper got the highest number of votes to emerge on top of the list of the 100 best Test players since 2000, in a poll conducted by cricket.com.au, reported PTI.
 Moreover, <keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword>'s Kumar Sangakkara got the second highest votes, followed by <keyword id="14583" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Adam-Gilchrist">Adam Gilchrist</keyword> of Australia, who was ranked third. Currently the 'Icon' of <keyword id="6354831" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Premier-League">Indian Premier League</keyword> (IPL) franchise <keyword id="13880" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mumbai-Indians">Mumbai Indians</keyword>, Tendulkar earned 23% of votes, with over 16,000 fans participating in the survey. Sangakkara got 14% after Cricket Australia released the top-100 Test players' list since 2000 on its website. 

	The Indian legendary batsman, who retired from international cricket in 2013 after playing his 200th Test, is the lone Indian player to be figuring in the top-10 list, while there are four Australian, three South African and two Sri Lankan cricketers.
 

	"After 10 days of counting down and no end of deliberations, cricket.com.au released its final countdown of the 100 best Test players since 2000 a couple of days ago. Readers debated the top 10, just as you did players 11 through 100, but we also provided an opportunity for you to decide your No.1 Test player of the century," CA's website stated.
 "Tendulkar, the Little Master who remains an iconic figure in the sport, was a runaway winner, jumping four places from where cricket.com.au had him placed, while batting giants <keyword id="6367229" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ricky-Ponting">Ricky Ponting</keyword> and <keyword id="61954" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Jacques-Kallis">Jacques Kallis</keyword> were separated on countback, with the Australian just edging out his Proteas counterpart," it said. 

	The 42-year-old Tendulkar, who is the only batsman to have hit 100 international centuries, holds the record for highest run scorer in both Tests and One-Day Internationals.
 

	The Poll result: 
 1. Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) 23% 2. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) 14% 3. Adam Gilchrist (Aus) 13% 4. Ricky Ponting (Aus) 11% 5. Jacques Kallis (SA) 11% 6. AB de Villiers (SA) 10% 7. <keyword id="17439" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shane-Warne">Shane Warne</keyword> (Aus) 9% 8. <keyword id="13825" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Glenn-McGrath">Glenn McGrath</keyword> (Aus) 5% 9. <keyword id="26689" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Muttiah-Muralitharan">Muttiah Muralitharan</keyword> (SL) 3% 10. <keyword id="12829" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Dale-Steyn">Dale Steyn</keyword> (SA) 1% 
	(Image: Reuters)

Another feather in Sachin’s cap! Voted best Test player of 21st century

Sydney: Australia have received a huge boost with spin legend <keyword id="26689" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Muttiah-Muralitharan">Muttiah Muralitharan</keyword> joinng the Australian coaching staff as a <keyword id="2351000" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="spin-consultant">spin consultant</keyword> for the upcoming series against Pakistan which will be played in the UAE in October. 
 <keyword id="71500" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Muralitharan">Muralitharan</keyword>'s knowledge of the doosra will benefit the Australians immensely who have struggled against Saeed Ajmal's doosra in the past. Australia play a T20I, three ODIs and two Tests against Pakistan in October. 
 
Speaking to the Cricket Australia website, Muralitharan said, "I'm very much excited; I know the Australian team is a very good side, but hopefully I can have a little bit of input to help them do well in the series against Pakistan. Those conditions might help spinners and I know a few tricks that might help them on what to do as I have played a lot of matches in those conditions in the UAE and hopefully I can help them a little bit." 
 
Muralitharan has had an acrimonious relationship with Australia, having been called for chucking twice in 1995 and in 1998. However, he has recently featured in the Australian Big Bash League for the Melbourne Renegades franchise. 
 Australian coach Darren Lehmann said that Muralitharan's role would be similar to the role played by Shane Warne during the recent tour of South Africa where he acted as their spin consultant. Muralitharan will be currently mentoring <keyword id="563328" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Nathan-Lyon">Nathan Lyon</keyword> in <keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword>. The 42-year old spinner said, "Ajmal is a difficult customer for all the best batsmen in the world, but he bowls a little bit similar to me so perhaps if I can bowl to the Australian batsman it might help a little bit and give them some tips. Lyon has been bowling brilliantly but hopefully I can help him a little bit on how to bowl in these subcontinent conditions, on how to use the conditions and how to set up the field." 
 
Lehmann said that Australia have won just one series in India in the last 40 years and this highlighted the ineffectiveness of Australia's batsmen to tackle spinners in those conditions.

Muralitharan To Be Australia's Spin Consultant

In the gloom of the Edgbaston weather, there was a moment which sparked a talking point in the fifth ODI. In the 43rd over, Sachithra Senanayake mankaded Jos Buttler. Apparently, Buttler was warned twice which was fair enough. When he did it for the third time, Senanayake knocked the bails off at the bowler's end and the appeal was made. The umpires conferred with <keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> <keyword id="16561" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="skipper">skipper</keyword> Angelo Mathews and he did not withdraw the appeal. Buttler was given the marching orders and Edgbaston roared with boos. 
 
It was interesting to note that Senanayake was in the midst of this situation. Prior to the match, there was some tension on the surface when it emerged that his action was reported after the conclusion of the fourth ODI at Lord's. The furore generated by the British press centred on only one broad fact which was: The move was technically sound but not in the spirit of the game. Now, cricket has often been caught in the crossroads when it comes to technical execution and spirit of the game. This can be a subject matter for later. 
 The controversy generated by the off-spinner takes our memory back to that warm and sunny day in Adelaide during the Carlton and United tri-series in 1999 between England and Sri Lanka. Umpire Ross Emerson no-balled <keyword id="26689" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Muttiah-Muralitharan">Muttiah Muralitharan</keyword> and signalled that he was called for chucking. Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga did not appreciate it and play was held up for 14 minutes as Ranatunga led his players off the park. After heated consultations with the <keyword id="343751" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Sri-Lankan-Cricket-Board">Sri Lankan Cricket Board</keyword>, play went on but the bad blood did not end there. Darren Gough head-butted Roshan Mahanama after the batsman was apparently trying to obstruct the bowler's path while taking a run. Alec Stewart also did it and he went one step further by telling Ranatunga that his behavior as a country <keyword id="1411" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="captain">captain</keyword> was appalling. 
 
In this backdrop, the accusations came from both sides. Umpire Emerson went on to say that Muralitharan's action was worse than ever but the ICC had cleared the bowler of chucking. The media, in general, was critical of Emerson for pursuing his own agenda. 
 There have been further instances of controversy when England and Sri Lanka squared off in a three-Test series in 2001. In that series, bad umpiring from all the officials, most notably from BC Cooray in the second Test at Kandy, led to a breakdown in behavior from players in both teams. The moment which grabbed plenty of eyeballs came when Kumar Sangakkara and <keyword id="90933" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Michael-Atherton">Michael Atherton</keyword> were involved in a heated argument with Atherton wagging his finger at Sangakkara. Apparently, Atherton claimed that Sangakkara called the England team cheats. 
 When one looks at the events in Edgbaston, the issue is not on whether Senanayake had broken the law. Clearly, he and Sri Lanka did no wrong in mankading Buttler. Once bitten, twice shy is a sign for individuals to be careful. Repeating the offence a third time, even after getting warned in the previous over, was a clear sign that it was time for Buttler to go. England captain <keyword id="9234" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Alastair-Cook">Alastair Cook</keyword> said that a line has been crossed. However, he would do well to remember this line from British novellist George Jenkins' book, 'The Strange Case of Mr. Challoner'. In that, the now famous line was said when a crime was committed, 'The But(t)ler did it.' 
 
Senanayake and Sri Lanka should be commended for this action. England, and more urgently, Buttler needs to introspect and look carefully at the laws. It is clear: Sri Lanka were right and England were in the wrong. What is your opinion?

Sri Lanka And England: A Controversial Past

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/35103317.cms" /><keyword id="351" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Yuvraj-Singh">Yuvraj Singh</keyword> smashed a 29-ball 68* with the help of nine sixes as <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword> (186 for 4) saw off Delhi Daredevils (170 for 7) by 16 runs at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday night. With their fourth win in 10 matches, RCB kept their remote play-off hopes alive, while DD suffered their eighth defeat in 10 matches to keep scraping the bottom of the barrel. 

	Ever since the World T20 final defeat against Sri Lanka where Yuvraj scored a 21-ball 11, he has been at the centre of criticism with many questioning his batting credentials. In a quest to restore his good name, the left-hander started his IPL campaign on a great note, scoring a match-winning 29-ball 52 against DD in RCB's first match. Despite a great start to the season, Yuvraj all of a sudden waned and so did the fortunes of the team.
 

	However, in the last game against Rajasthan Royals, the left-hander made 83 off 38 balls and took four wickets to show first real signs of his returning to form. On Tuesday, Yuvraj continued from where he had left off against RR, putting DD bowlers to the sword. Against Shane Watson's men, Yuvraj's efforts had gone up the spout but against DD, the team won, erasing the bitterness of the defeat in the last game.
 

	Yuvraj joined AB de Villiers at 93 for 3 in 12.3 overs and showed positive intent straight away, scoring a four off his third ball. The duo had added 132 against RR and looked set to do another similar act. However, de Villiers failed this time losing his stumps to Kaul for 33.
 An undeterred Yuvraj hit legspinner Imran Tahir for three consecutive sixes in the 17th over to bring plenty of momentum to the RCB innings. Yuvraj continued his assault, sending Mohammad Shami and Siddarth Kaul over the fence in the 18th and 19th overs respectively. In the last over bowled by <keyword id="172496" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rahul-Shukla">Rahul Shukla</keyword>, Yuvraj showed his most devastating side, hitting four successive sixes. The over yielded 27 runs in all. 

	Yuvraj also bowled an economical over towards the end - 16th over of the innings - giving away just four runs and hampered DD's momentum a great deal; the visitors needed 68 off 30 balls before Yuvraj's over. He kept the dangerous JP Duminy quiet. Considering the margin of the win and Duminy's 30-ball 48, the over was very important in the context of the game.
 Sri Lanka great <keyword id="26689" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Muttiah-Muralitharan">Muttiah Muralitharan</keyword> also showed some glimmers of his past skills and got rid of <keyword id="57265" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Murali-Vijay">Murali Vijay</keyword> whom DD had brought back for this match in place of Laxmi Ratan Shukla. Hadn't wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel dropped Mayank Agarwal in the third over, Murali's second, the Sri Lankan would've had his second victim in as many overs. Murali, along with Mitchell Starc, who cleaned up Quinton de Kock for six in the second over, ensured there weren't even distant hopes of a win for the visitors. However, Mayank Agarwal (31), Kevin Pietersen (33), Kedar Jadhav (37) and Duminy combined to make a match of it but Yuvraj's assault with the bat eventually turned out to be difference. Murali returned with 2 for 25, <keyword id="6355316" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dinesh-Karthik">Dinesh Karthik</keyword> being his second victim. 

	Earlier, after the match was delayed for 70 minutes due to rain, DD captain Pietersen won the toss and put the hosts in to bat. RCB struggled in the first half of their innings but Yuvraj's extraordinary power-hitting in the next helped the team fetch 71 runs in the last four overs. Yuvraj and Sachin Rana (15) added an unbeaten 79 for the fifth wicket.
 

	Jharkhand fast bowler Shukla got the sought-after breakthrough in the sixth over when he removed Chris Gayle for 22. The West Indian was looking in great touch, manifested by two big sixes off Shami and Duminy, before chopping the ball onto his stumps as he charged down the track.
 

	RCB captain Virat Kohli's lean patch continued as he succumbed to an unnecessary run-out for 10 off the first ball of the eighth over, Shukla again playing a part. The ball from legspinner Tahir took an inside edge in the direction of fine leg where the sturdy fast bowler was keeping vigil; a rocket throw from Shukla reached wicketkeeper de Kock who removed the bails in a flash and Kohli found himself short of crease.
 

	de Villiers joined a cautious Parthiv Patel and both began the repair work. At the start of their partnership, there were only singles and doubles. Things changed for RCB in the 11th over as Patel picked up two boundaries off Tahir. Buoyed by the over, de Villiers took 18 runs off the next over bowled by medium pacer Kaul with the help of two fours and a six.
 

	The 49-run stand was broken by Shami's slower ball in 13th over. The diminutive left-hander got deceived and gave a simple catch to Karthik at point for 29. Thereafter it was all Yuvraj's show.
 

	Brief score: Royal Challengers Bangalore 186 for 4 in 20 overs (Yuvraj 68*; Shami 1/31) beat Delhi Daredevils 170 for 7 in 20 overs (Duminy 48; Muralitharan 2/25) by 16 runs.

Yuvraj's Sparkle Breaks RCB's Losing Streak

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/34869980.cms" />With IPL 7 moving into the business end, the big-ticket players are taking centerstage but there are some uncapped Indian players who have matched the international star cast in their performances so far. Here, gocricket.com takes a look at the top five uncapped players who have surprised everyone in IPL 7. 
 
Yuzvendra Chahal - seven innings, eight wickets, economy 5.96 
 Picked up for Rs 10 lakh, the legspinner has not only justified his place in the star-studded playing XI of <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword>, but has done remarkably well for the franchise. Chahal has been preferred ahead Muttiah Muralitharan and has reaffirmed RCB's faith by claiming seven wickets from seven matches, most importantly at a miserly economy of 5.26 runs per over. The 23-year-old's guile has left many big players in a tizzy and he has so far reaped the rewards flighting the ball up to the batsmen. His bowling against <keyword id="6354884" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Delhi-Daredevils">Delhi Daredevils</keyword> and <keyword id="13880" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Mumbai-Indians">Mumbai Indians</keyword> in the UAE were exemplary performances, for which Chahal won one Man-of-the-Match prize and deserved a second. 
 
Suryakumar Yadav - eight innings, 127 runs, average 42.33 
 Suryakumar Yadav played just one game in the IPL for Mumbai Indians last year and scored a duck, but glimpses of his a hard-hitting pedigree were on view at the <keyword id="6360761" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Champions-League">Champions League</keyword> Twenty20 later in the year, and <keyword id="6354467" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kolkata-Knight-Riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</keyword> roped him in for 70 lakh and slotted him as a finisher in their XI. Despite KKR's poor run of form, Yadav has managed to string together decent scores - 24*, 34, 31 against RCB, KXIP, RR - coming in during the slog overs. His enterprising brand of strokeplay has lifted the team as well. His 31 off 19 balls helped spark life into the KKR chase in the Super Over match versus <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword> and even in the field he has been a live-wire - a total value for money for KKR. 
 
Karun Nair - five innings, 138 runs, average 34.50 
 
Coming into IPL 7 on the back of a stupendous 2013-14 first-class season in which he hit centuries in three successive Ranji Trophy matches for Karnataka, RR decided to be give the 22-year-old a chance in the fourth game after Abhiskek Nayar's continuous failure as an opener. Nair did not start off well scoring 8 and 1, but RR persisted with him and he hit 73 off 50 balls leading his team to a win against Daredevils. In the next game, he contributed a brisk 44 against KKR. Picked up for Rs 75 lakh, Karun has so far proved to be a good gamble for RR and in all probability will continue to open. 
 
Pravin Tambe - eight games, 13 wickets, economy 6.21 
 
IPL's very own Cindarella story. The 42-year-old legspinner has been a revelation in IPL 7 with 13 wickets in eight games, briefly holding the Purple Cap for most wickets. Again part of the RR setup, who have the knack of getting the maximum out of their budget players, Tambe has proved to be the most vital cog in the bowling attack. In IPL 6 Tambe played three matches taking two wickets but it was in the Champions League that he made headlines by picking up 12 wickets in five matches. Getting the services of the Mumbai legspinner by using their right-to-match card at the IPL auctions, RR got it right - and Tambe has proved an excellent purchase for just 10 lakhs. 
 
Akshar Patel - seven innings, six wickets, economy 6.50 
 
While all the talk around KXPI has centred on their explosive batting and foreign imports, the impact of allrounder Akshar Patel has gone by under the radar. Used more as a bowler than a batsman, the left-arm orthodox spinner has been able to provide vital breakthroughs. Patel, 20, features very high among those who have sent down the most dot balls in IPL 7 and has taken six wickets at an economy of 6.50 runs per over. The BCCI Young Player of the Year Award for his stirring performances in Under-19 tournaments in 2012-13, purchased by KXIP for 75 lakhs, is clearing finding his footing among the big boys and should be a regular in the coming matches.

You Searched For "muttiah muralitharan" and got 7 results

Rahul Dravid is among all time greats but he could never read me: Muralitharan

PTI

Shah Rukh Khan, Muttiah Muralitharan, other cricket greats feature in new ICC Men's Cricket World Cup campaign

IANS

Another feather in Sachin’s cap! Voted best Test player of 21st century

BI India Bureau

Muralitharan To Be Australia's Spin Consultant

gocricket

Sri Lanka And England: A Controversial Past

gocricket

Yuvraj's Sparkle Breaks RCB's Losing Streak

Gocricket

IPL: Five Cut-Price Indians Who've Outshone Pricey Stars

gocricket