On This Day In 2010: Muralitharan Signs Off With 800 Wickets In Test Cricket
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On This Day In 2010: One of the greatest spinners the world has ever seen, Muttiah Muralitharan, retired from Test cricket on this day after a remarkable career for Sri Lanka. An unorthodox off-spinner with a lethal doosra, the magician cast his spell on batters from all over the globe and finished with an incredible 800 scalps in Test cricket at Galle versus India in 2010.
Heading into the three-match series versus the neighbours, Muralitharan shocked cricket lovers by announcing that the opening Test at Galle will be his last.
Aged 38, the great off-spinner decided to hang up his boots and rest his shoulders after carrying Sri Lanka's bowling attack throughout his glorious 18-year reign.
#OnThisDay in 2010, Muttiah Muralitharan signed off from Test cricket in style by taking his 800th Test wicket pic.twitter.com/KEP4lCRfg4 — ICC (@ICC) July 22, 2016
The feisty character challenged himself, however, to record the unbelievable 800 wickets milestone in that Test match and hand the hosts an upper hand over the tourists.
Standing on 792 wickets in 132 appearances, Muralitharan turned his 133rd and last Test for Sri Lanka into a memorable one as his figures of 5 for 63 and 3 for 128 helped the Lankan Lions defeat the mighty Indian side, featuring some of the legends of the game.
He then got rid of the maestro Sachin Tendulkar and skipper MS Dhoni to stand on the brink of his finest achievement.
Late resistance from India's lower-order forced Muralitharan to wait, but he ultimately bagged the insurmountable No.800 by dismissing Pragyan Ojha and closing off the Indian innings at 338, setting up an easy chase of 95 runs and a ten-wicket victory for his team.
Muralitharan celebrated his greatest feat in front of his family and friends present amidst a packed crowd at the Galle International Stadium.
He was later lifted on his teammates' shoulders in the most emotional post-match scenes as Sri Lanka's finest cricketer bid farewell to the Test match game.
On this day in 2010, Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan retired from the longest format of the game, finishing with 800 Test wickets 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xw17urNuKc — ICC (@ICC) July 22, 2022
Muralitharan finished as the format's highest wicket-taker, with his tally unlikely to be surpassed in an era of dwindling number of Tests.
He recorded his 800 wickets at a staggering average of 22.72 and holds the record for most five-wicket hauls (67) and most ten-wicket hauls (22) to his name.
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First Published:
July 22, 2025, 07:39 IST
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