FORMER Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga is adamant Muthiah Muralidaran is a superior bowler to leg-spinner Shane Warne -- but wasted his time touring Australia.
The 1996 World Cup-winning captain believes pacemen Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie gave Warne an armchair ride to his world record of 708 wickets in 145 Tests.
Ranatunga said Muralidaran's shocking record in Australia -- 12 scalps at 75.41 -- is an aberration in a remarkable career tally of 704 wickets at 21.77 in 115 Tests.
"If you take the record, Murali has played less matches and Warne never had to bowl at the top-order batsman," Ranatunga said.
"He always had McGrath and Gillespie to take wickets at the start. Warne would come in sometimes and clear the tail. If you look at Murali, he has to come on and take top-order wickets from the start."
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The 1996 World Cup-winning captain believes pacemen Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie gave Warne an armchair ride to his world record of 708 wickets in 145 Tests.
Ranatunga said Muralidaran's shocking record in Australia -- 12 scalps at 75.41 -- is an aberration in a remarkable career tally of 704 wickets at 21.77 in 115 Tests.
"If you take the record, Murali has played less matches and Warne never had to bowl at the top-order batsman," Ranatunga said.
"He always had McGrath and Gillespie to take wickets at the start. Warne would come in sometimes and clear the tail. If you look at Murali, he has to come on and take top-order wickets from the start."
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