R Ashwin is one away from 500 Test wickets. James Anderson needs five more victims to reach 700 Test wickets. While Muralitharan stands on his own having set this statistical benchmark, he is also the fastest to 400, 500, 600 and 700 Test wickets. Muralitharan produced these moments ever so often, leaving batters perennially confused by the sharp spin and fizz on the ball. Muralitharan mastered the doosra — invented by Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq — in response, causing further problems by spinning the ball prodigiously either way now.

Source: Hindustan Times February 08, 2024 20:42 UTC