Date:05/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/05/stories/2007120555732300.htm

Sport - Cricket

Vettori applauds Murali record

PERTH: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said on Tuesday it was time to move on from debating the legality of Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s action and accept him as the “greatest bowler ever”.

Speaking as New Zealand arrived to prepare for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day series against Australia, the New Zealand skipper and fellow finger spinner applauded Muralitharan’s efforts in becoming Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker during the first Test against England in Kandy.

Just days after Indian great Bishan Singh Bedi again questioned the Sri Lankan’s bowling action, Vettori said Muralitharan “rightly” held the record and called for controversy to