LONDON (AFP) - Sri Lanka’s star off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was named on Tuesday as the Wisden almanack’s “leading cricketer in the world.”
He is the fourth recipient of the title since it was inaugurated, following Australians Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne and England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.
The award differs from the traditional five cricketers of the year, as it can be won more than once by the same player.
“Muralitharan is a truly great cricketer,” said Wisden’s Simon Barnes. “Those that cannot go along with such a sentiment have something lacking in their souls. The spirit of cricket, perhaps.”
The Sri Lankan enjoyed another prolific year with the ball and is closing in on 700 Test wickets.
The arrival of England’s left-arm spinner Monty Panesar in international cricket was recognised as he was named as one of this year’s five, as is Paul Collingwood’s development into a top-class all-rounder.
Surrey’s Mark Ramprakash also receives the accolade for his phenomenal domestic season - in which he scored 2,278 runs - while Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and Pakistan run machine Mohammad Yousuf are the other recipients.
Re: Wisden's top cricketer award goes to Muralitharan
ICC -- is suppose to be Cricket's Highest body and authority in all matters.
Since they have officially cleared the action of Murali- long time back, he needs to be treated as a normal bowler thus his great performance and efforts are worthy of Awards like any other deserving players in Past.
Also, I guess, in all those recent matches in which he bowled well, Umpires had full liberty to report him had he Chucked?? Since there is no such reporting of Chucking in recent years.
Re: Wisden's top cricketer award goes to Muralitharan
^ oh ur full of it.
That is not the issue. What matters is that he is a legal bowler and he is a match winner who can get the wicket of the best batsman out there.
That is it.
Re: Wisden's top cricketer award goes to Muralitharan
What matters is that he is a legal bowler
No...he is not.
The fact is that ICC is handling the chucking issue with its hands tied behind its back.....the regional bloc of South Asian boards shout the "R" word at the drop of the hat.
Once a chucker , always a chucker....that is the truth.
On a similar note..that Malinga guy with the sling action should be banned too..on account of his action being "weird" and "unbecoming of a gentleman cricketer"....C'mon...there is a certain way..normal people play the game of cricket...and these guys come along bringing all sorts of animal antics to the cricket field.
Re: Wisden’s top cricketer award goes to Muralitharan
Remember Jeff Thompson? Just because a bowler’s action does not fit the neat and tidy profile you have in your head about how a bowler should bowl, does NOT mean the bowler should be banned from international cricket. Otherwise we’ll have people clamoring to ban/strip records of Abdul Qadir (dancing action) and Kapil Dev (the weird way he’d put his hands in front of his chest as if he is a retard suffering from polio). Expand your horizons, sir ji.
Re: Wisden's top cricketer award goes to Muralitharan
This world cup was the first time I saw Shaun Tait and I don't know about others but I think the guy CLEARLY chucks.
I 2nd that. We discussed that a lot in the AUS-SAF game back home. Someone needs to look at his crappy action.
Re: Wisden's top cricketer award goes to Muralitharan
Remember Jeff Thompson? Just because a bowler's action does not fit the neat and tidy profile you have in your head about how a bowler should bowl, does NOT mean the bowler should be banned from international cricket. Expand your horizons.
*Aap ko entry maarni hi thi...*with your pearls of wisdom
That Malinga comment, btw, was said in half-jest. Not good at using emoticons.
