I do not dispute that a ride on the off-spinner’s elbow

I do not dispute that a ride on the off-spinner’s elbow may not be the smoothest trip in town but I also turn up at cricket matches hoping to be entertained, and Muralitharan seldom lets me down.What if Muralitharan does throw the odd ball? Cricket is littered with bowlers with questionable actions and he is not going to kill anyone. I saw his photo in the paper the other day and put my old school protractor on his arm It was bent at 48 degrees. This reaction stands in stark contrast to the euphoric scenes – with the exception of a few sour Australians – which followed Brian Lara’s world record score of 400 against England in Antigua.This is because the game is divided on Muralitharan. The controversial Sri Lankan spinner passed Courtney Walsh’s career haul of 519 when he lured the Zimbabwean tail-ender Mluleki Nkala into edging a pad-bat catch to Mahela Jayawardene at silly mid-off.
Though Muralitharan’s remarkable achievement was celebrated enthusiastically by his team-mates in Zimbabwe and his supporters in Sri Lanka, the feat has received a mixed reception from the remainder of the cricketing world.

Vettori and Oram made a mockery of the conditions, which should have been ideal for seam bowling, and added 99 runs in just 14 overs.New Zealand’s only concern is the form of the Michael Papps, and there may be a case for Stephen Fleming filling his place during the Test series. The New Zealand captain has only opened in Test cricket on a couple of occasions but bats in this position regularly in one-dayers.. Muttiah Muralitharan became the second cricketer in a month to break a world record when he claimed his 520th Test wicket in Harare on Saturday. The Red Rose county were on 128 for 1 in their second innings, giving them a lead of 26 runs with nine wickets remaining.Leaders Kent were frustrated by the weather as no play was possible yesterday against Gloucestershire at Canterbury.In the Second Division Nottinghamshire made a good response to Glamorgan’s 274 at Trent Bridge.

Russell Warren reached 97 off 148 balls before he was trapped lbw by David Harrison while Kevin Pietersen made an excellent 70 off 98 balls and they were 287 for 6 the close. The former South Africa Test paceman Dewald Pretorius inflicted the damage with 4 for 23 in his opening spell, which included a burst of three wickets in six balls.Even with England internationals Mark Butcher and Rikki Clarke in their ranks, Surrey could not recover from their poor start, although 52 from the captain Jon Batty, the only half-century of the match, ensured that they made a fight of it.In the Frizzell County Championship Ian Ward’s defiant 115 enabled Sussex to avoid following-on in the face of fine bowling from Northamptonshire spinners Graeme Swann and Jason Brown. Dominic Cork’s 7 for 120 helped remove Middlesex for 338 to raise the visitors’ hopes of claiming a victory.Lancashire batsman Mark Chilton was three runs short of his half-century when bad light prevented any further play shortly after tea. They took four wickets apiece as the reigning champions were dismissed for 294.

Robin Martin-Jenkins added 51, but the remainder of the supporting cast failed to fire.Northamptonshire secured maximum batting points before declaring on 400 for 9 in their first innings Usman Afzaal finished unbeaten on 167. They were six without loss in their second innings at stumps.Middlesex and Lancashire’s hopes of obtaining a win likely to put them top of the First Division table were diminished as bad light affected play at Lord’s. Chances went begging at both ends as the game moved into extra-time with Cannock handicapped by the temporary suspension of Ben Sharpe. But as penalties loomed, Rob Toddconverted the winner in a goalmouth scramble.Hightown, although taking an early three-minute lead through Nat Hannah, left it late to score a last minute equaliser to force extra-time. Chelmsford had dominated for long periods and scored twice from 16 penalty corners. But they were made to pay for their wastefulness when Hannah scored her second right on time, and then Aimee Clark slipped in for the winner with just 20 seconds of extra-time remaining.Earlier in the day there was double disappointment for Kingston Grammar School when they were beaten 3-2 by Portsmouth Grammar School in the Under-14 Schools final, and 4-1 in the Under-16s final by Langley Park Comprehensive School.. The pegs were pulled out of the circus racing here yesterday and the caravans now move on to York this week and Goodwood the next as attempts to source the winner of the Derby on 5 June continue The ringmaster is already in place.