‘I will play another 3 years of T20’

Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan says he should call it a day once he reaches 800 Test wickets and breaks Wasim Akram’s ODI record of 502. In a chat with Nihal Koshie, the spin legends also spoke on various other issues in Bangalore. Following are excerpts:

What is the key for bowlers in T20?
You have to read what the batsman is going to play very early and then you have to take your chances. I guess T20 is a bowler’s game as well and not just a batsman’s game. But mainly people like to see sixes and fours and if there are wickets where batsmen can’t score than people will get bored. But bowlers also have to give themselves chances.

Of your 735 Test wickets, which are the ones that you love most?
Of my own performances that I cherish, it is my nine-wicket haul in an innings against England (9/65, At the Oval, August 1998)

What are the targets you still want to achieve?
I am targeting 800 Test wickets and I have only 65 to get. If I get that I will be very happy. Then I will try for little more wickets in one-day internationals to get 30-odd wickets to get the world record of Wasim Akram (Murali on 464/Akram on 502). When it is done there is nothing more to achieve for me.

Will you call it a day on reaching 800 and overtaking Akram?
I think so. Looking ahead there is no future because if some bowlers are coming through in Sri Lanka I would like to give them a chance.

Aren’t you targeting 1,000 Test wickets?
I can achieve 1,000 Test wickets but the thing is it is too long and too hard to achieve. I am 36 now and you have to retire when you are on the top.

What do numbers and statistics mean?
Numbers are going to be just numbers for your own satisfaction.

What are your plans once you call it a day?
I am enjoying T20 now so much so I might play a few years. I have signed for three years so I have to play for these three years. Then I have to see if I can play for one year or more. It depends on how I bowl.

What are your experiences while playing in Australia?
It was a tough place to play. Players have to put up with it that is how it is; you cannot have your own way. You know difficult times will also come. The reason I decided not to tour one particular time was because the prime minister made a comment and I didn’t want a head of state to be involved in politics and cricket.

On relationship with Warne…
We are just friends. We say hello to each other, we are no enemies. He is the greatest bowler I have ever seen. That is what matters.

On his charity…
We have a foundation of goodness to help needy people in Sri Lanka. After the tsunami we constructed 600 to 1,000 houses for people displaced. We give the money to people who need an operation or have other needs.

How do you overcome controversies?
You don’t want to give up just because of what some people say. You want to prove yourself. That is the way I look at life. I want to go forward instead of taking a backward step. I knew that I had the talent to go forward. So anyone trying to stop me, they tried their best, but couldn’t.

What are your thoughts on coaching along with Anil Kumble in future?
I am going to play another three years of T20. I have already played for 17 years and add another three years and it would be 20 years. I want to enjoy the other side of life as well. I stated playing when I was eight.

I will do a little bit for the game, not for money but for enjoyment. I have already spoken to Anil and we will try and get together and do some coaching in the spin department. He is one of the greatest bowlers I have seen and he knows a lot. We will see which country needs help. We are looking at sub-continent countries and academies.

We want to spend about one week or two weeks with them. Try to teach what we know. I think bowling coaching is not about technique but how to access the conditions and bowl in those conditions. When both of us call it a day we will look at coaching together. Hopefully, it will help future generations.