Date:25/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/25/stories/2003042506141800.htm

Sport - Cricket

Muralitharan threat looms over New Zealand

COLOMBO APRIL 24. The challenge of mastering Sri Lanka's hot and humid conditions or the low-bounce sub-continental pitches fades in significance for New Zealand's cricketers compared with the prospect of facing off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in the two-Test series starting Friday.

Five years ago, New Zealand squandered a first Test victory to succumb to a 2-1 loss in its last tour to Sri Lanka as Muralitharan's treacherous tweakers foxed the batsmen.

Muralitharan's 19-wicket haul in three Tests dashed New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming's dream of winning a Test series in Sri Lanka, and the ace spinner says he wasn't even in his prime then.

``I've added more variety to my spinning art in recent years,'' says Muralitharan, who is the country's highest wicket-taker with 437 dismissals in 73 Tests and is aiming to overhaul the 500-mark this year in Tests against New Zealand, the West Indies and England in the pipeline.

Contemporary cricket's most bewildering yet controversial spinner, Muralitharan says he's prepared to give up playing one-dayers to chase this dream.

All this isn't good news for Black Caps' skipper Fleming, who returns to Sri Lanka in prime batting form but aware of the enormous challenge of taking on Sri Lanka in its own backyard.

New Zealand has lost three of the last four Test rubbers to Sri Lanka — despite enjoying a 7-4 lead in 18 Test encounters since 1983.

Live telecast

Ten Sports will telecast `live' New Zealand-Sri Lanka two match Test series and also the triangular one-day series. Pakistan is the other team.

The schedule: Second Test: May 3 to 7.

Tri series: May 10: Pak vs SL; May 11: NZ vs SL; May 13: NZ vs Pak; May 17: Pak v SL; May 18: NZ vs Pak; May 19: NZ vs SL; May 23: Final (d/n).