Cricket Australia manages coup, ropes in Muralidaran for guest spin coach role
February 8th, 2011 - 2:56 pm ICT by ANISydney, Feb.8 (ANI): Once declared an outcast by Australian cricket fans, veteran Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has agreed to sign on as a guest spin coach at the Brisbane-based Centre of Excellence in June this year.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Test cricket’s greatest wicket-taker will not only impart the secrets of his spin wizardry but also record a spin coaching tutorial so his extraordinary know how will be passed on to future generations of Australian spinners.
It maybe recalled that Murali was repeatedly heckled, taunted and even had fruit thrown at him by unruly Australian fans here since being no-balled by Darrell Hair in the 1995 Boxing Day Test.
Australian great Greg Chappell, one-time Indian coach and Australia’s only full-time selector, masterminded Murali’s visit by using his extensive network of contacts in the subcontinent.
“This is a wonderful opportunity … Murali has probably forgotten more about spin bowling than most people will ever know in a lifetime,” Chappell told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.
He added: “He is one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time, we are very, very lucky. It is not just Murali’s obvious physical skill that will be a huge benefit for our young spinners. It is also his mental toughness, his cleverness, his cunning and his ability to be able to set a batsman up and bowl 10-15 overs to a plan.”
The Murali news is a shot in the arm for Australian cricket at a time when it conducts a major review into a devastating Ashes loss and tries to plot a fresh course into the future.
The nation’s depleted spin stocks are one of the most pressing issues with 10 frontline spinners deployed at Test level since Shane Warne walked off into the sunset at the end of the 2006-07 home Ashes series. (ANI)
- Murali's Centre of Excellence stint would be a priceless for young Oz spinners: Healy - Feb 10, 2011
- Muralitharan turns his back on Cricket Australia's coaching role - Mar 01, 2011
- Murali doesn't deserve the record: Emerson - Jul 08, 2010
- Harbhajan has highly suspicious action, claims Hair - Aug 24, 2011
- Both New Zealand and Australia have a point to prove (Preview) - Feb 24, 2011
- Smith should be included in the Ashes squad: Chappell - May 13, 2010
- Ashes: Oz selectors have avoided difficult decision for another week - Nov 16, 2010
- 'All rounder' Watson creates flexibility at Australian selection table: Hilditch - Aug 06, 2010
- Muralitharan ends Test career with a staggering 800 wickets (Lead) - Jul 22, 2010
- Smith not ready to replace Hauritz as Australia's No 1 Test spinner" Muralidaran - Nov 11, 2010
- Impossible to break Murali's record: Warne - Jul 17, 2010
- Calls for Warne's return to Oz Ashes team 'nonsensical': Hussey - Dec 13, 2010
- Muralitharan does not deserve 'highest wicket-taker' record, Warne does: Emerson - Jul 08, 2010
- Chappell rules out Warne's return - Dec 13, 2010
- Australian bowling lacks talent: Murali - Nov 05, 2010
Tags: australian cricket, australian fans, boxing day, boxing day test, cricket australia, cricket fans, daily telegraph, darrell hair, future generations, greg chappell, indian coach, mental toughness, muralidaran, muralitharan, physical skill, shane warne, shot in the arm, test cricket, test level, wicket taker