Muttiah Muralitharan Joins Australian Coaching Team
Muthiah Muralitharan - the world's leading Test wicket taker - is already working with Australia's top spinner Nathan Lyon as part of Australia's National Cricket Centre Spin Programme, and has agreed to become more involved. He will now accompany the team to UAE for series against Pakistan.
Sydney:
Sri Lankan spin great Muthiah Muralitharan announced Wednesday he
will join the Australian coaching team for their series against Pakistan
in the United Arab Emirates.
The world's leading Test wicket
taker is already working with Australia's top spinner Nathan Lyon as
part of Australia's National Cricket Centre Spin Programme, and has
agreed to become more involved.
His signing is a coup given his
knowledge of the doosra delivery, which has long baffled the
Australians, and with Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal among the game's most
potent mystery spinners.
"I know the Australian team is a very
good side, but hopefully I can have a little bit of input to help them
do well in the series against Pakistan," said Muralitharan.
"Those
conditions might help spinners and I know a few tricks that might help
them on what to do as I have played a lot of matches in those conditions
in the UAE and hopefully I can help them a little bit.
"Ajmal is a
difficult customer for all the best batsmen in the world, but he bowls a
little bit similar to me so perhaps if I can bowl to the Australian
batsman it might help a little bit and give them some tips."
The 42-year-old retired from international cricket after Sri Lanka lost the World Cup final to India in 2011.
His
appointment is part of coach Darren Lehmann's plan to enlist the
support of specialist coaching consultants to assist the team's
preparations throughout the year.
Muralitharan's role will be similar to that filled by fellow spin legend Shane Warne on the recent tour of South Africa.
"Muthiah
Muralitharan is a true great of the game and his involvement with the
Australian team will bring enormous benefits," said Lehmann.
"He really understands the conditions we'll face and will be able to impart a great amount of knowledge.
"Not
only will he help guide our spinners during that tour, but he will also
work with our batsman to help them prepare to play Pakistan's dangerous
spin bowlers."
Australia play Pakistan on neutral ground in the
UAE in a series comprising three one-day matches, two Tests and a
Twenty20 from October 3-November 1.
Pakistan have been forced to
play their home series at neutral venues since militants attacked the
Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.
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