It is a deeply saddening thought that, as a result of his involvement with illegal bookmakers, we may never see Mohammad Amir in international cricket ever again following his devestating bursts and Man of the Series performances on Pakistan's tour of England.

The overriding sensation is one of deep frustration – frustration that this can happen right under our noses at the home of cricket. And in such circumstances! Pakistan were well on top of England when the offences took place, the deliberate bowling of three no-balls; one from Mohammad Asif and two from Mohammad Amir.

The evidence is pretty damning. The two no-balls from Amir were huge. He had over stepped by nearly a foot. The deliveries were suspicious in their own right as he was in the middle of bowling one of the most destructive and masterful spells that Lord’s has witnessed. How can someone go from such fluency and accuracy to over stepping by such a margin, not once but twice? There were otherwise no indications from the 18 year old that he was struggling with his run up.

Mohammad Asif, however, bowled his no-ball with unerring accuracy, only just overstepping to deliver an innocuous looking no-ball. The obvious question from this, is, has he done it before? It was the perfect no-ball to order.

Asif is no stranger to controversy. Two failed drugs tests, an arrest at Dubai airport for having a ‘white powder’ in his wallet and a much publicised training ground bust up with the equally inconsistent Shoaib Akhtar. Such was the extent of their argument that Akhtar took a bat to Asif.

That Asif has once more courted controversy should come as no surprise.

The names of Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal are also linked to this sorry episode. Butt has received frequent praise for his dignified captaincy of Pakistan during what has been a tough tour for the visitors. How much of his poor form has just been down to the pressure of captaincy? It’s a question that will be asked, but would never have entered anyone’s mind prior to the fourth Test at Lord’s.

And Akmal – he of the Teflon gloves. There are many, many questions to be asked about his performances. Rubbish behind the stumps with the odd moment of brilliance; rubbish with the bat all tour. His performances during that tour of Australia will once more come under the microscope, particularly his four dropped catches in Sydney.

If found guilty of these alleged spot-fixing offences, all four will most likely face lifetime bans from the International Cricket Council, of not the Pakistan Cricket Board.

It is for Amir, however, that the cricketing world will mourn most. It’s a terrifying and saddening prospect that the final act in the talented left-armers career could have been that spell at Lord’s on Friday, when he blew away England’s middle order with the guile and panache of a seasoned pro 10 years his senior. This could be the end of the road for the youngster. And to think what he could achieve at the highest level.

This isn’t about the further damage to Pakistan’s already sullied reputation. They are only ever consistent in making fools of themselves. This is about the tarnished reputation of sport. As fans we pay our hard earned money to see both sides give nothing than 100%, 100% of the time. To witness anything else is a debacle. And to witness anything else because the participants are gaining financially is to not only defraud the fans, not only defraud cricket, but to defraud sport as a whole.

If the allegations are found to be true, we will be permanently deprived of the talents of Mohammad Amir. That is a deeply upsetting notion. We will never see Mohammad Asif’s nagging accuracy and ability to make a ball talk off the pitch. We will never see Salman Butt strut his stuff at the top of the order. We will never see the erratic glove work of Akmal again. Even if he’s found not guilty.

This hugely defrauds cricket.

With the amount of money wagered on cricket matches it is no surprise that players fall foul of temptation. A Pakistan central contract is only worth around £25,000 per annum. England players on similar deals earn anywhere between £150,000 and £400,000 per annum. MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar earn around £7,000,000 per annum.

With no Pakistan players chosen for the Indian Premier League due to bad blood between the nations, fewer games being organised with Pakistan as a direct result of the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore and less revenue being generated by the PCB, the players are increasingly earning less. The temptation of the cash on offer from illegal betting syndicates is, to a lad from an impoverished upbringing such as Amir, often simply too good to refuse.

The deepest cause for concern is the thought that this really is only the tip of the iceberg. This could only be the beginning and we could well have seen the last of Mohammad Amir. That is already too higher a price to have paid.

By Miles Reucroft

Lord's will host the fourth Test between England and Pakistan - the last Test of this English summer

Funny how things can turn around so quickly, isn’t it? Having won the toss at the Oval, Strauss must have thought to himself that here was a golden opportunity to get in some decent batting practice against a good bowling unit.

The Oval usually provides a batsman friendly surface and Strauss clearly felt that, even under cloud-leaden skies, the third Test would prove no different.

And so the series, from nowhere, is wide open again. The reintroduction of Mohammad Yousuf to Pakistan’s middle order steadied their shaky ship and a four-wicket victory was sealed on the fourth day. We head into the fourth Test, the last of this English summer, with the distinct possibility that Pakistan could pull off one of the most remarkable about turns in fortune.

Except, with Pakistan, what is remarkable? The line between normality and crazy is blurred into one big cloud when talk turns to Pakistan cricket. We know they’ve got world class players. Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif have been a handful with the ball all summer. The introduction of Saeed Ajaml and his un-pickable (at least to the English batsmen) doosra brought a flurry of wickets at Edgbaston, if not enough to drag Pakistan back into that Test.

Mohammad Yousuf has smeared English bowling attacks in the recent past. Wahab Riaz bowled with panache at the Oval in place of the injured Umar Gul. This isn’t a poor Test team cut from the same cloth as perennial whipping boys Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Yet that is the problem with Pakistan. One minute they can be truly awful and perform well below themselves and the next they can rouse themselves to bring about a victory from nowhere.

Consistency. Pakistan just wouldn’t be Pakistan if they had that. So predicting a result in the fourth Test of this series is nigh on impossible without seeing which Pakistan have turned up. We might not be able to tell until the second day!

I fancy England to spring back with a win. Alastair Cook lifted the weight from his shoulders with a fortuitous (there are no pictures in the scorebook, mind) 110 at the Oval and the rest of the batting could now also use some use some runs, notably Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood.

Neither has the noose hung round his neck but it would be a timely reminder of their ability if they could carve out a decent score each at Lord’s. The English bowling remains in full swing and this should tip the balance of the game in England’s favour. Whilst Pakistan were vastly improved at the Oval, theirs is still a young, developing side. It would be a huge ask for them to level the series. Too huge, surely…

By Miles Reucroft

Alastair Cook could do with raising his bat to celebrate a 13th Test century to boost his morale and answer his growing number of critics.

It is all well and good pointing out the obvious – Alastair Cook is out of form and short on confidence – but what do we propose as a solution? If the selectors decided to bring down the axe, who could they replace Cook with?

I’m no fan of dropping players on the back of a poor run of form. Cook has played in 58 Tests for England and amassed 4238 runs at an average of 42.80 with 12 centuries along the way. He has clearly demonstrated his class but is just enduring a torrid time of things right now.

That said it would probably not be the worst idea if England were to use the final two Test matches of this English summer to take a look at another option at the top of the order in case Cook’s poor run continues on into the winter and the Ashes defence.

One option would be for Cook to swap places in the order with Jonathan Trott. This option would allow Cook to retain his place in his side whilst at the same time allowing the selectors a look at how Trott copes with an opening berth in Tests. If he succeeds then he would be an easy option to replace Cook this winter if needs must.

Trott has enjoyed an excellent start to his Test career with a century on debut in the Ashes clinching victory at The Oval last summer and has since gone on to score 923 runs at an average of 51.27 with another century to boot. This summer, due to Cook’s struggles, he has consistently been coming in early to try and resuscitate England’s starts alongside Strauss.

Trott looks to have the temperament to be a good opening bat for England and he certainly has the patience to see a job through. He is the only obvious candidate within the current England squad who could replace Cook.

Outside of the squad, who else is there? Hampshire’s Michael Carberry was handed his Test debut in Bangladesh this winter but didn’t exactly set the world alight. This recent inclusion shows that he is on the England radar and he averages a thoroughly respectable 52.85 in First Class cricket.

Adam Lyth of Yorkshire is the other obvious candidate in County cricket right now. The diminutive left-hander is in great form, sitting atop the run scoring table in Division One with 1221 runs at 58.61 in 2010. His overall First Class average sits at 55.27.

That Lyth possesses genuine potential is not in doubt and he is a player who likes to get after the new ball to score his runs. Would the timing be right for him to be thrust into the Test side against a bowling attack that has been a constant thorn in England’s side so far this summer? It would certainly be a baptism of fire.

In all likelihood Lyth will have to wait another year or so at least before international honours come knocking. Carberry, too, may have his recent assertion that he won’t extend his Test career beyond a single cap proved correct – at least for this year. Trott will probably remain at number three for the rest of the Pakistan series and beyond.

For the selectors to drop Cook now would be a monumental decision. He has clearly been earmarked for captaincy later on in life and he has shown time and time again that he is a world class operator, even if he doesn’t always exude the classy, dominating demeanour of a Virender Sehwag or his opening partner Strauss.

Cook is just struggling right now. Form is temporary, class is permanent, right? It may be comforting to know that there are other options available to England and it may prove to be this knowledge that focuses Cook mind round to scoring a few belligerent runs before the team travels Down Under.

By Miles Reucroft

John Dyson famously got his numbers all wrong with his own Duckworth-Lewis calculation in Guyana in 2009 to gift England a one run win

Collingwood was understandably aggrieved with England’s loss to the West Indies. England had scored an above par score of 191, but the West Indies were only required to score 30 from 22 balls after the rain.

The system does take into account the psychological bonus of attacking a shorter innings – a good example being the 4th ODI between India and England at Bangalore in November 2008. India scored 166 in 22 overs before rain interrupted play. England were set a target of 198 from the same number of overs to account for their different mindset while batting. They only reached 178.

The system, however, can’t entirely negate the advantage. It will always be easier to attack a short innings and not need to sustain scoring over a longer period. When a Twenty20 revised innings can be as short as five overs, there is no need to worry about losing wickets or building partnerships.

Surrey recently posted a record-breaking score of 386 in a 40 over match against Glamorgan. They weren’t able to finish due to the rain and Glamorgan were given a revised target. They still fell 30 runs short but were far closer than they would have been without the rain’s intervention.

One of the problems with the system is that the formula is so complicated that it’s almost impossible for fans (or even captains and coaches – just ask former West Indies coach John Dyson!) to be able to estimate what the revised total will be. This means that a target appears to be plucked out of the air and one team will feel that they’ve been disadvantaged.

However, the Duckworth-Lewis method is a far better system than previous methods. Earlier techniques such as the average run rate or most productive over rate (if the team batting second is to bat ‘x’ overs they must beat the first team’s total from their ‘x’ highest scoring overs) were severely flawed. In the 1992 World Cup semi final, South Africa were given a target of 21 from a single ball despite being in contention to win before rain halted their progress.

The Duckworth-Lewis method does a better job of taking into account the vast number of variables present in a shortened innings. Even so, it is surely not possible to calculate a score that makes a reduced-over total the exact equivalent of a maximum over score. This means that one side will receive an advantage because of the system, because the estimation cannot be perfect.

What this essentially means is that one team will be slightly more likely to win a match after a rain break than they would have been if every allocated over was batted. Is this any different to a Test team escaping with a rain-induced draw despite being handsomely beaten for four days? Or even the shifting of conditions so that a team that has been skittled in swinging conditions now has to bowl in glorious sunshine?

The Duckworth-Lewis method’s purpose is to avoid rain-produced draws in limited overs cricket. It does this by producing a reasonable (but not perfect) target. To look for it to be any more accurate would be to look to negate the effect of weather on a game of cricket. In many ways, that would be to rip the heart out of the game.

By Luke Catterson

Sachin Tendulkar has celebrated 48 Test centuries, over 13000 Test runs and now 169 Test appearances.

In his home country India he is celebrated like a god – hundreds of thousands of infant males carry the name ‘Sachin’ solely because of Tendulkar. It is impossible to overstate his standing in the eyes of millions of Indians.

When the third Test between Sri Lanka and India commenced yesterday in Colombo, Tendulkar became the most capped Test player is history. Crossing the white line for the 169th time he surpassed Steve Waugh’s record of 168 Test appearances, a figure he had matched during the second Test at the SSC.

The former Australian captain will surely become a distant second as Tendulkar is showing no signs of letting up. He still posses the class and, most importantly, determination to continue playing cricket at the highest level.

How many more records that he can break, however, is questionable. His record breaking 13742 (at the time of writing) Test runs have come at an average of 56.08. This is highly impressive but Tendulkar will never match the career average of 99.94, set by the imperious Sir Donald Bradman. That’s one record that the Don will most likely carry forever more.

Tendulkar can add to his 48 Test centuries but can he reach Brian Lara’s highest score of 400*? Tendulkar’s best effort to date – and that is not sound patronising – is 248*. He has four other double hundreds to sit alongside this effort too.

Whilst it would be foolish to bet against Tendulkar breaking Lara’s record, he doesn’t quite seem to have what it takes to amass such a score. He is far more consistent in accruing big scores, but not massive scores. Indian team mate Virender Sehwag is a more likely candidate to threaten this record.

In ODIs Tendulkar has amassed some 17598 runs – comfortably a record. His 200* against South Africa a few months back broke a previously unthinkable landmark in the game. Some had gone close to 200 runs within 50 overs but none had reached it. That innings reminded everyone of what a special player Tendulkar is. That particular record will take some matching.

Does Tendulkar need anymore records? Does he have anything left to prove? The answer is no. If he retired tomorrow he would be remembered as a legend of the game, one of the all-time greats. That he continues to grace cricket pitches around the world with his presence is a treat to millions and long may he continue to ply his trade at the highest level. Who knows, there may even be a record or two left to break.

By Miles Reucroft

Muttiah Muralitharan has bowed out from Test cricket with 800 wickets

We are unlikely to witness such wicket-taking exploits ever again. 800 – a truly remarkable figure. The game has changed markedly this millennium with the advent of Twenty20 cricket and the increasingly infrequent staging of Test matches. These factors, combined with increasingly batsman-friendly tracks bode well for the safe-guarding of Muralitharan’s record.

That said there was a time when 500 Test wickets from one man seemed an impossible dream. Then along came Courtney Walsh. So 600 seemed impossible. Then along came Anil Kumble, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan to mark an extraordinary period of spin bowling.

Warne called time on his own splendid career having become the first man to reach the 700 landmark. His retirement from the upper echelons of the game paved the wicket-laden way for Murali to weave his way to the next – 800.

That he did cannot be overstated as an achievement. Even those of the persuasion that he is no more than a ‘chucker’ cannot help but be mightily impressed by the imprint that he has left on the game. Can anyone ever topple his record?

When casting your eye down the list of leading wicket-takers ever to have graced the game you have to scroll down to number 18 on the list to find the leader of the current batch of Test playing cricketers – Harbhajan Singh on 355. This assumes that Makhaya Ntini’s Test career is over.

Of the current field there appears to be no obvious candidate. Murali has hinted that Harbhajan Singh could overtake him but this is plainly false flattery – Singh is already 30 years old and doesn’t appear to posses the temperament or stamina to topple 800 wickets.

During his Test career Murali delivered some 44039 deliveries in order to claim his 800 wickets. Any pretender to his throne must posses the same stamina and will to succeed, not to mention sheer enjoyment of the game. This volume of deliveries can only be conducted by a spinner, such is the strain on the body of the paceman’s art.

By way of comparison Warne sent down 40705 deliveries for 708 wickets, Kumble 40850 for 619. The nearest pace bowlers have sent down over 10000 fewer deliveries – Glenn McGrath 29248 for 563 wickets, Ambrose 30019 for 519 and Kapil Dev 27740 for 434.

Harbhajan Singh has already sent down 23594 deliveries for his 355 wickets. That he has already bowled over half of Murali’s total career deliveries suggests that he won’t feature in the final reckoning, although he could (and should) claim over 500 Test scalps.

For now, at least, we will have to live with the memory of Muralitharan and his unconventional off-spin. Unless an indestructible fast bowler is lurking out there somewhere, ready to embark on a 15 year Test career, or there is another Murali hidden in a youth development system out there, it will be a long wait before he is dethroned as cricket’s greatest wicket-taker.

Thank you and goodbye Murali, we salute you!

By Miles Reucroft

It is worth pointing out that Muralitharan took 795 of his Test wickets for Sri Lanka. The other five came in a one-off Test for an ICC World XI against Australia. That this fixture contributes to the career totals of those involved enabled Murali to reach 800. But for those we may never have seen the 800 wicket landmark reached…

Andrew Flintoff, right, is clearly delighted to have the opportunity to meet editor of The Cricket Blog, Miles Reucroft

At first he extols the virtues of fuel efficient driving – remove your cricket bags from the boot, check your tyres, lose the roof-rack, close the windows and turn off the air-conditioning. Unfortunately it’s a warm day.

Freddie cautiously pulls away from the line and encourages our eyes onto a monitor showing how much the petrol tank is emptying by as we go along. It’s not long, however, before talk turns to cricket. He is jovial in his manner and is at ease talking about topics ranging from the Indian Premier League to whether England should have a four-man or five-man bowling attack.

“I’m a bowler, so I’d say five,” he says. Or is he? On the subject of batting he says that he sees himself as a batsman and describes wielding the willow ‘as a reward for bowling’. Right now he says he’s going back to basics. “In the nets I’m concentrating on seeing the ball and just hitting it as hard as I can.”

I take this as the right time to ask if he’s keen on turning out for the Chennai Super Kings franchise in next season’s IPL. “Oh yeah!” he says in a cheeky you-know-exactly-why kind of way, his eyes lighting up in the rear-view mirror. “When I played for Chennai it was in South Africa. Playing in India is a completely different experience.”

Unfortunately we come back to the subject of cars. “In Dubai I’ve got one of those Audi Q7s and over here a Range Rover,” he says. Given that both of these tanks are thirstier than a post-2005 Ashes celebrating Andrew Flintoff, perhaps he needs to conserve the petrol. “Are they?” he asks sheepishly when I point out their gas guzzling ways. His guilty look suggests that he knows.

Following a few laps we retreat and Freddie takes a few more of the gathered hacks round the track. We then get five minutes with Dictaphone et al to talk to arguably England’s most influential cricketer of this century.

We start by returning to talk properly about the IPL, rather than idle car-journey chat. “Yeah, I’d love to,” says Flintoff when I ask if he wants to play IPL next year. “First and foremost though, I need to play cricket. I need to get back on a field, probably initially, for Lancashire 2nd XI and then play my way back into the 1st team at Lancs. Everyone’s asking about IPLs and World Cups, this so called ‘freelance’ thing, which is bizarre really because people have played for different clubs since, well, for years.

“I’ve got to get out there and prove my fitness, prove my form before I can think about Chennai and possibly Queensland and World Cups and things. I want to play for Lancashire first.”

His passion for Lancashire is clearly undiminished. They are the first team that he mentions during any conversation about his returning to competitive action, but the England jersey also remains in his thoughts, if not his immediate sights.

Since Flintoff stepped away from cricket following last summer’s Ashes series, the domestic game that he is so evidently eager to return to has changed somewhat. Not least in the limited overs where 40 over cricket is now the order of the day, not 50.

“I think a lot’s been made of it,” he says. “I used to love playing the old Sunday League, which was always 40 overs. The one thing about it was that everybody knew where they were, they knew there was a game on a Sunday and you got the crowds in. 40 over cricket’s great.

“Everyone’s asking ‘is 40 over cricket doing us any good when at International level it’s 50?’ It’s only 10 overs, isn’t it? It’s not a big thing!”

But from a bowlers perspective, does bowling eight instead of 10 overs affect one’s rhythm? Flintoff interrupts my question to state that, “It’s only two overs. You’ve still got the same pressures – you still have power plays, you still have to bowl at the death, just like 50 over cricket. Your good players will perform whatever – whether it’s Twenty20, 40 overs or 50, or four day cricket.”

"I’d love to play Test cricket still, but unfortunately my knees can’t stand up to it," says Flintoff.

I then mention Imran Khan’s words from the night before we met, where he delivered the ‘MCC Spirit of Cricket Colin Cowdrey Lecture’ at Lord’s. He expressed his fears for the future of Test cricket and, in particular pace bowling, mentioning Flintoff when talking about players choosing to sacrifice the rigours of Test cricket for Twenty20 and all that it entails.

It is a subject that is clearly close to Flintoff’s heart and the merest suggestion that he gave up Test cricket for financial gain rankles with him. “Obviously I respect Imran, but with the Twenty20 stuff I think there’s a huge place for it in the development of cricket, attracting kids, attracting a new audience, bringing fans into the grounds.

“I truly believe, however, that Test cricket is the best form of the game. The one thing we need to do is preserve it. So, for instance, you’ve got your English summer, we’re actually blessed here that we do get full houses and big crowds which isn’t the case in the rest of the world; we need to preserve that. Rather than playing a one-off Test here or there let’s have an event like The Ashes, like in India, and build everything else around it. I’d agree with Imran on that front.

“With players leaving for money I can’t agree with that. If you look at the players playing IPL, a lot of them have played Test cricket and they’ve built reputations that have enabled to play IPL. The likes of me, I’d love to play Test cricket still, but unfortunately my knees can’t stand up to it. So twenty20 and the shorter forms are an option for. I’m lucky in that respect that I can still stay within the game and play.”

I then ask Flintoff if he would return for a one-off Test. I put the scenario to him that England might be desperate and there’s an Ashes decider up next. He throws me a quizzical look and shakes his head. “It wouldn’t do anyone any favours. One, I’ve retired and two, for the development of the team. They don’t want people popping in for one Test. I think they’ve improved over a period of time because they’ve filled key positions, the side have stuck together and they’ve grown together. I think they’ve got key players, or people who can come into key positions due to injury or lack of form and I think that’s something they should persevere with.”

The proof is out there for all to see. England have enjoyed a successful run in 2010, not least in winning the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in the Caribbean. Was it disappointing for Flintoff that he wasn’t a part of that?

“Yeah, I was hoping to play in it but it was evident from a long way out that I wasn’t going to make it,” he says. “So, it wasn’t a case of getting to the West Indies and a week before having to pull out – I knew. I did what everybody else did and became an England fan. I wanted them to do well.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’d have loved to have been in Barbados at the end of it with a medal. I think the knock-on effect for the team, though, is increased confidence. Every time they go out on a field they expect to win. I think that’s showing through their recent performances and results.”

Flintoff rates Marcus Trescothick as the best player he played with for England.

We then talk about Flintoff’s England career and the best player played with in an England shirt. After pausing for thought Flintoff tells us: “There’s been a few. To single out one; Trescothick. The side’s success when we had about four years of dominance, Tres was going up and opening the batting. He smashed everyone about, he made it easy for everybody else. Coming in down the order and Tres had got runs, the opposition is on its knees and we used to come in and reap the rewards!

“Kev’s not bad either, is he!” No he’s not Freddie, no he’s not!

Our time with Flintoff was concluded with a quick question about the future – what next? “I realise cricket’s not going to last forever and I’m looking at various TV opportunities,” he says. “I don’t want to end up in a position where the cricket’s come to an end and I’ve seen ex-professionals who don’t know what they’re going to do and they have to jump for the first thing that comes along. I want to be in a position where I can build for the next year or two – build for the inevitable.”

Call him Fred, Freddie, Andrew or Flintoff (his missus calls him Andrew if you were wondering) Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff has left his mark on the English and International game. His influence is surely nowhere near finished and the thought of Flintoff and Shane Warne teaming up in a commentary box near you sometime soon is an appealing one.

For now, however, avert your eyes from the fast lane and look in the middle lane – that’s where you’ll find Freddie, ensuring he gets his extra litre of fuel out of Shell’s new petrol.

By Miles Reucroft

Murali lies waitng on 793. He couldn't reach 800, could he?

Both India and Sri Lanka posses household names in their ranks – Sehwag, Tendulkar and Dhoni compliment Sangakkara, Muralitharan and Malinga to form an all-star cast. Yet Murali’s is the name on everyone’s lips. He started the match on 792 Test wickets and had to wait until Day Three to twirl his arm over at the Indian batsmen. Tendulkar soon became number 793, succumbing lbw to Murali’s arm.

The great Sachin Tendulkar swooped to sweep the great Muttiah Muralitharan and something had to give – on this occasion it was Tendulkar’s judgement as he missed the ball and it crashed into his pads, leaving the umpire with no option but to grant Murali another scalp. And what a scalp! We can only hope that it is not his last.

No one would begrudge the maverick Murali an 800th Test wicket and it would certainly serve to illuminate this game as it meanders towards its inevitable conclusion of a draw following the total washout on Day Two. Should he manage to find another seven wickets here then he would also put Sri Lanka in a strong position. It seems unlikely, though, that in the remaining two days he will find the time to work his magic one last time to reach 800.

That once unthinkable mark will have to be reached by someone else, if indeed the game witnesses another with the same stamina, guile and talent as Muttiah Muralitharan. If only he were playing one more Test…

Muttiah Muralitharan, with his record-breaking and contraversial action, will be sorely missed by Sri Lanka and the international game

To say that he is reverred in Sri Lanka is an understatement. In a country split by warring factions Murali is a symbol of unity and success. His exploits are gratefully acclaimed throughout the rest of the sub-continent and most of the cricketing world without, perhaps, the notable exception of Australia.

Down Under Murali has faced near constant accusations of being a ‘chucker’ with former Australian Prime Minister John Howard once publicly calling him as much. The Australian public and press always openly championed Shane Warne as the greatest bowler of them all, a view perhaps shared in England and South Africa, although not nearly as vehemently. As such, Murali never turned in his career defining performances on Aussie soil, perhaps the only black mark against an otherwise glittering career.

He had his action thoroughly examined by the ICC in light of being cited for ‘chucking’ (i.e affording too much flex in his elbow at the point of delivery) but was cleared of any wrong doing. The accusation undoubtedly tarnished his reputation irreversibly though.

Test cricket will bid farewell to its greatest (at least in terms of volume of wickets) bowler during the Galle Test between Sri Lanka and India commencing July 18th. Given his recent form it would seem unlikely that Murali could snare the eight remaining victims required for a historic 800th wicket, but no one would bet against him. He has one final chance to make it and everyone will surely be willing him on.

He will not take part in the subsequent ODIs against India and will pick and choose the international fixtures that he participates in prior to making himself available for selection for the 2011 ICC World Cup which will be held, at least in part, in Sri Lanka.

The timing of Murali’s decision is in keeping with his desire to bow out at the top of his game. Rather than plod along and be selected solely on the basis of his reputation, Murali is conscious not to block the path of emerging talent in Sri Lanka. He also doesn’t wish to suffer the indignity of being dropped. Rather than suffer this humiliating fate, he will depart the international game after one final fling at glory in next year’s World Cup.

Surrey had been sniffing around him to participate for them later on in this County Championship season but this offer appears set to be declined as he limits the amount of cricket that he plays between now and the World Cup. After that it is assumed that he will continue to participate in the lucrative Indian Premier League, a tournament that he won with Chennai Super Kings this year.

It will be sad to lose Murali. His name evokes fond memories and his persistently happy and chirpy demeanour complimented his all-round style. Never a panther in the field and often a bunny with the bat, he always plays with a joie de vivre often lacking in modern sport in general. He is similar in his outlook to Ronaldinho, the Brazilian football star, in that he genuinely appears to enjoy doing what he does.

It would be a fitting departure from Test cricket if he could take eight Indian wickets at Galle, but sport is rarely a breeding ground for sentimentality on such occassions. He will need to lift his game to heights that have recently deserted him after a run of injuries and loss of form. With only one more game to go, however, it would be the perfect send-off to see the tiny Tamil wheeling away in delight at number 800.

By Miles Reucroft

Sachin Tendulkar's magnificent double century against South Africa could stand alone forever more

ODI cricket has struggled with its identity ever since Twenty20 arrived. In a world where there is plainly too much cricket being played something has to give and it’s widely expected to be ODIs – the poor relation. Once exciting and attacking, it looks dull and languid when faced with Twenty20 cricket. The middle overs are often boring and for every game that goes to the wire there are 10 that are decided by the half-way stage.

These proposed changes could well prove to be the final throw of the dice for this dying format. In one last effort to resuscitate it it will take on parts of both other formats – the staccato bash that is Twenty20 and the split innings that is Test cricket.

There are two ways of looking at this idea. One is to see it as nothing more than the bastard love child of two much more loved forms of cricket. The other is to see it as a brilliant idea that will alter the dimensions of the game.

In truth, what will most probably happen is that games will, in effect, be over by the time both sides have completed their first innings. It will be played like back-to-back Twenty20 games and there will be the same number of dull matches that has numbed the world to the joys of ODIs in the first place.

One area, however, that it will even out is that concerning batting under flood lights. Sachin Tendulkar lamented the fact last year that far too many games were, in effect, decided at the toss where flood lights were concerned. If innings are split then both sides will, at least, have to bat under the dreaded lights.

One other point of interest is that of the record books. Should this split-innings format be embraced at international level then Tendulkar’s own double-hundred will forever stand as the record ODI score. There will be less five-fors and less centuries. It will be a completely different game to what we have now and the records books will have to be re-written – and cricket loves a record.

One thing is clear – if this experiment fails then so will ODIs for good. It has been widely assumed that ODIs are the weak link in the cricketing chain and this English domestic season doesn’t even feature a 50-over tournament. If the Aussie experiment succeeds – and best of luck to them – then cricket will change forever. If it doesn’t, then ODI cricket will meander to an inevitably dull demise.

By Miles Reucroft