2009-11-30

Mumbai: Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralidaran may find it a struggle to pick wickets in the ongoing Test series in India, but he has his supporters.

Murali, Chennai Super Kings spinner hasonly five wickets for 396 runs at an average 79.20 to show for in two Tests so far.

Murali is so frustrated with his drop in form that he's considering early retirement from international cricket before  the 2011 World Cup

But Murali's Indian counterpart, Harbhajan Singh, who plays for Mumbai Indians backs the legend.

"Murali is a true hero. I have enjoyed the way he bowls, the way he creates pressures," Harbhajan was quoted as saying by Mumbai-based tabloid Mid-day on the sidelines of an awards function.

The Indian off-spinner understood the fact that overall it's been tough for bowlers.

"It's been tough bowling on these wickets (in this series), but at the end of the day you have to take up the challenge and try your best," said Harbhajan.

Murali is the world's highest wicket-taker with 788 wickets in 138 Tests but it rankles that in his four tours to India he has yet to taste a Test victory.

From his words, it seems, he's even resigned to the fate. "Looking back I can say what an amazing career I have gone through but if we can't win in India that's it. Life has to go on," a philosophical Muralidaran told Sri Lanka's The Nation newspaper.