Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan looked beyond Courtney Walsh’s world wicket-taking record on Wednesday, suggesting he could even reach 600 test victims.
Muralitharan, whose six-wicket haul in the first test against West Indies on Wednesday took his career haul to 356, said: ``Who knows, maybe I will get to 600 Test wickets, since I am only 29.
``I first set out to get 300 but that happened so quickly that perhaps I can get to 600. It’s coming, it’s coming. It is only another 144 wickets to 500. I like bowling a lot.‘’
West Indies pace bowler Walsh took 519 test wickets before retiring earlier this year.
Muralitharan was particularly delighted with Brian Lara’s wicket on Wednesday, caught behind after making 178.
``I enjoyed bowling to Brian Lara today, since I consider him to be one of the best in the world,‘’ he said.
``He plays all around the wicket, he has no restrictions and it is always a challenge to bowl to him and, while he does give you a chance to get him out, he is such a good batsman.
``The pitch is still a bit slow, but today I put a bit more zip in things, and they worked.‘’
Sri Lanka ended the second day on 103 for one after dismissing the touring side for 448.
Muralitharan added: ``We have done well so far, but we still have to bat well on the third day.
``If we could perhaps get 550 or 600, then the pressure would be on the West Indies.‘’