The highest wicket taker in test match cricket, Muttiah Muralitharan, said on Wednesday that he is planning to retire from test cricket at the end of this year and from all forms of international cricket after the World Cup scheduled for next March.

The 37-year-old Sri Lankan cricketer, who has taken a world-record 792 wickets in 132 Tests, will finally call it quits on an 18-year long career after the West Indies' two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in October. He needs only eight more scalps to become the first and only player to take 800 wickets.

Muralitharan's career has been beset with controversy; his bowling action called into question on a number of occasions by umpires and sections of the cricket community. After biomechanical analysis in non-match conditions, Muralitharan's action was cleared by the International Cricket Council, first in 1996 and again in 1999. The legality of his doosra was first called into question in 2004.

This delivery was found to exceed the ICC elbow extension limit by nine degrees, five degrees being the limit for spinners at that time.Based on official studies into bowling actions, which revealed that 99% of all bowlers exceed the elbow flexion limits, ICC revised the limits applying to all bowlers in 2005. Muralitharan's doosra falls within the revised limits.

World's highest wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan has hinted that he may retire from all forms of the game even before the 2011 World Cup. Muralitharan hasn't been effective enough against India which turned out to be one of the reasons for the Sri Lanka's crushing defeat here on Friday.

In the first Test at Ahmedabad, Sri Lanka was in a good position to take an early lead in the three-match series but Indian batsmen managed to save the Test as Muralitharan wasn't able to trouble the hosts much. The off-spinner has taken just five wickets in the two Tests played here so far in the ongoing series.

But Muralitharan isn't worried too much despite trailing the series 0-1 and said Sri Lanka will be back in business in the next Test in Mumbai that gets underway on the December 2.

About of Muttiah Muralitharan: -

•    Full name Muttiah Muralitharan
•    Born April 17, 1972, Kandy
•    Current age 38 years 97 days
•    Major teams Sri Lanka, Asia XI, Chennai Super Kings, ICC World XI, Kandurata, Kent, Lancashire, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club
•    Also known as Muttiah Muralidaran
•    Playing role Bowler
•    Batting style Right-hand bat
•    Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
•    Height 5 ft 7 in
•    Education St Anthony's College, Kandy

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