Muralitharan signs off in style

Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan bowed out of Test cricket by taking his 800th Test wicket on a dramatic final day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka.

It was fitting that he chose to retire at his home stadium in Galle, a venue that was swamped by the tsunami in 2004 and which he worked so tirelessly to restore.

The wizard from Galle offered more than a sufficient glimpse of his tricks, leaving fans to ask if he had perhaps retired a trifle prematurely.

Only a sportsman knows when it is time to retire. Some leave it too late, while others measure it to perfection. Murali's exit showed that he belonged to the latter category of players.

Murali is more than just the greatest bowler in Test cricket — if statistics are used as a barometer. He is a master of his craft and his humility matches his talent. This ensured that he is universally admired by the public and by others of his ilk. His ability to succeed despite all the odds also highlights his character. On the field, his professionalism and sense of fair play — the basic tenets of cricket — was second to none.

Murali's legend has transcended the game.