GALLE, Sri Lanka, 9 March 2004 — Muttiah Muralitharan exposed Australia’s batting limitations against spin with a six-wicket haul in the opening cricket Test against Sri Lanka here yesterday.
Australia failed to read the off-spin magician on a turning track, crashing to 220 all out after electing to bat in their first Test since the retirement of legendary Steve Waugh in January.
Sri Lanka were 81-1 at stumps in reply, with Marvan Atapattu (29) and Kumar Sangakkara (16) at the crease.
Muralitharan finished with 6-59, his best against Australia in 23 Tests. He is now just one wicket behind Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne (492). This was the Sri Lankan’s 40th haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings.
Only retired West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh is ahead of Warne and Muralitharan with 519 Test wickets.
Muralitharan troubled the batsmen with his turn and bounce on a pitch which helped the spinners right from morning session. His accuracy also made the Australians struggle.
“They played too many shots and that helped me take wickets,” said Muralitharan.
“They tried to attack me and I always have a chance of taking wickets against attacking batsmen. I bowled my normal off-spin and rarely bowled the one that goes the other way. We have a good chance to put them under pressure.”
Muralitharan’s performance upstaged Darren Lehmann’s solid 63 in his comeback match and Warne’s return to international cricket after serving a 12-month drug-ban.
Warne’s first Test over in more than a year was hardly impressive as eight runs came off it, including a cover-driven four by Sanath Jayasuriya. But he did not have to wait long for his first victim.
Warne struck in his third over, trapping a free-stroking Jayasuriya (35) leg-before.
“It’s a fantastic feeling to be back playing, especially in Test arena,” said Warne.
“I’ve said a number of times that the past 12 months have had their ups and downs, but also reinforced in my mind just how much I love the game.
“I’ll never forget this feeling of being selected to play for Australia again. I am glad Ricky (Ponting) and the selectors think I have got a role to play in the team. The rest is up to me.”
Things went wrong for Ponting in his first Test as captain. He won an important toss, only to see his batsmen flounder against spin.
Muralitharan was not the only spinner to tease the Australian batsmen as Kumar Dharmasena captured two wickets and Upul Chandana one at crucial stages to put the tourists in a spot.
Lehmann, out of international cricket for nearly five months due to an injury, was the most impressive batsman, using his feet remarkably well against the spinners to score his fifth Test half-century.
The left-hander cracked one six off Muralitharan and six fours before being bowled by the spinner.
He added 72 for the fourth wicket with Damien Martyn (42) after top-order batsmen Justin Langer (12), Matthew Hayden (41) and Ponting (21) had fallen in the morning.
Lehmann was also involved in a 52-run stand for the seventh wicket with Warne before Muralitharan wrapped up the innings, including the last two wickets off successive balls.
Sri Lanka, who went into the match with one fast bowler, kept things under control through their spinners as only Lehmann, Martyn and Hayden managed to defy the rival attack.
Martyn and Hayden looked well set when they fell playing sweep shots against spinners. The same stroke led to the dismissal of Adam Gilchrist (four).
Andrew Symonds made a forgettable Test debut after playing 94 one-dayers, as he fell for nought after being surprised by a sharp turning delivery from Muralitharan.
Australia were without paceman Brett Lee, who failed to recover from an ankle injury.
