In 2002, Wisden carried out a statistical analysis of all Test matches in an attempt to rank the greatest cricketers in history, and Muralitharan was ranked as the number one bowler of all time. Muralitharan's unique bowling action begins with a "flapping wings" run-up, and culminates with an extremely wristy release which had him mistaken for a leg spinner early in his career by Allan Border. Aside from his off break, he also is a master of the doosra, the surprise delivery which turns from leg to off with no discernible change of action. He is also able to bowl orthodox leg spin, as shown during the South African tour of Sri Lanka in 2006, managing to extract prodigious spin.
Critics will also grumble about Murali's good fortune at playing Bangladesh and Zimbabwe so regularly. Indeed, it is true that approximately 25% of his victims have come from these two minnows. But Murali would also have enjoyed Warne's volume of matches against England, a team against whom he has been equally prolific. In any case, his 26 wickets in this series is now par for the course considering the fact that he raced from 600 to 700 in just 12 matches: an average haul of 8.33 wickets per Test against opposition that includes Pakistan (2 Tests), England (3 Tests), South Africa (2 Tests), New Zealand (2 Tests) and Bangladesh (3 Tests). His wicket-taking was no more prolific against Bangladesh than it was against the rest. - Charlie Austin, Cricinfo
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