Colombo, Dec 26 (UNI) Now that Australian champion spinner Shane Warne has announced his retirement, Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan said he would set his sights on taking 1000 Test wickets before he calls it quits.
The 34-year-old off-spinner has taken 674 wickets so far behind Warne's 704.
Muralitharan though admitted he has a long way to go if he was to reach four figures.
''It's a tough one,'' Murali told Sri Lankan newspaper The Island.
''I am 34 now and if I go on for another five years without an injury that's possible I guess. But it depends on my form and how I feel and lot of other things. We'll see.'' Murali said he would cut down on his one-day commitments after the World Cup in 2007, to prolong his Test career.
''The workload is huge and there's no point in playing each and every ODI competition or tournament,'' he said.
''I'll just cut down on the ODI matches. It's not that I don't like one-day cricket, but it's just too hectic.'' Murali expressed happiness on helping Tsunami-affected people through his charitable ventures in Sri Lanka.
''I have been doing what I can. Sportsmen are loved by the fans and it's nice that lot of my team-mates joined me in doing the little we did. It was nice to set an example and use the funds that we raised for a good cause.
''The feeling that I get when I see a smile on those people whom we helped to build houses is great. It's a greater feeling than what you get when you get a 10-wicket match haul,'' he said.
UNI XC PDS DH DS1600
The 34-year-old off-spinner has taken 674 wickets so far behind Warne's 704.
Muralitharan though admitted he has a long way to go if he was to reach four figures.
''It's a tough one,'' Murali told Sri Lankan newspaper The Island.
''I am 34 now and if I go on for another five years without an injury that's possible I guess. But it depends on my form and how I feel and lot of other things. We'll see.'' Murali said he would cut down on his one-day commitments after the World Cup in 2007, to prolong his Test career.
''The workload is huge and there's no point in playing each and every ODI competition or tournament,'' he said.
''I'll just cut down on the ODI matches. It's not that I don't like one-day cricket, but it's just too hectic.'' Murali expressed happiness on helping Tsunami-affected people through his charitable ventures in Sri Lanka.
''I have been doing what I can. Sportsmen are loved by the fans and it's nice that lot of my team-mates joined me in doing the little we did. It was nice to set an example and use the funds that we raised for a good cause.
''The feeling that I get when I see a smile on those people whom we helped to build houses is great. It's a greater feeling than what you get when you get a 10-wicket match haul,'' he said.
UNI XC PDS DH DS1600
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