Magical Muralitharan finishes with 800 test wickets

Muttiah Muralitharan signed off a remarkable Test career by becoming the first man to take 800 wickets in his final Test against India in Galle.

Murali picked up the last wicket to fall when he had Pragyan Ojha caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene to finish with the eight wickets he needed to reach the milestone.

The haul helped set up a resounding ten wicket win for the hosts though this match will be forever remembered as Murali’s game.

Lasith Malinga’s 5-50 in the second innings proved the key to the win but Murali’s 800th dismissal broke a doughty last wicket partnership between Ojha and Ishant Sharma which lasted 15 overs.

“Galle is my favourite ground and this is the opportunity I was waiting for to win the match and finish it nicely,” said Murali, who played in 133 test matches.

“My knee is not that great to bowl 50 or 60 overs, I thought.”

Murali announced his plans to retire from the longer form of the game in July, although he expects to be available for the 50-over World Cup next year.

The 38-year-old made his international debut in 1992. He has also taken 515 ODI and 13 T20 international wickets in an 18-year career.