<Bt-4z33>Bermuda have a week to think about taking on the 'genius'
“He can spin it both ways. He is a genius, there is no doubt about that,” said Logie in full admiration for Muralitharan. “We will be up against a formidable team in Sri Lanka next Thursday and then there is India and then Bangladesh as well (in Bermuda’s group).
“All the teams we will be up against are going to be formidable but we have to believe in our own ability and the players have to back themselves to do well on the day.”
To make matters worse the wicket in Trinidad will expect to favour spinners. “The wicket in Trinidad will give a good opportunity for spinners. They usually have success in Trinidad. I think generally that the wickets in the Caribbean have slowed down quite a bit over the years and the spinners hold sway. That is something we have been trying to prepare for — to play the spin bowlers.”
Logie, who had Bermuda’s players this week spending extra time in the middle after the 45 runs scored all out against England on Monday, said the World Cup opening match against Sri Lanka in Trinidad “is going to be difficult”.
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He has taken over 600 Test wickets and over 400 One Day International wickets and was the first man to take 1,000 wickets combined in the two main forms of international cricket.
Other facts about Muralitharan which will make Bermuda fans cringe are:
[obox] He has the highest number of international wickets in Tests and ODIs combined (1106 wickets as of January 9 2007).
[obox] The most 10-wicket hauls in a match at Test level (19).
[obox] The most five-wicket hauls in an innings at Test level (57).
[obox] Muralitharan and Jim Laker (England), are the only bowlers to have taken nine wickets in a Test innings twice.
[obox] He is the only player to take 50 or more wickets against every Test playing nation.
[obox] He is the only player to take 10 wickets in a Test match against every Test playing nation.
[obox] He has been the fastest bowler to 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600 and 650 Test wickets.
[obox] He is the only player to take 10 wickets in a Test match in four consecutive matches twice. No one else has done it even once.
[obox] He has taken seven wickets in an innings against the most countries (5).
[obox] This sight on the scoreboard (b Muralitharan) is the most common dismissal in Test cricket.
[obox] The most successful bowler/fielder combination is: c Jayawardene b Muralitharan.
But it is not only Muralitharan who Bermuda batters must fear.
Sri Lankan pace spearhead Chaminda Vaas is their most successful fast bowler ever, having taken 300 Test wickets. Vaas has also taken over 300 ODI wickets, including two hat tricks, against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, the first of which was in the middle of a devastating spell of eight for 19, the best bowling figures in ODIs, and the latter being the infamous hat-trick of wickets in the first three balls of the game.
Scotland were beat by 159 runs by Sri Lanka in a warm-up match this week and Scottish player Paul Hoffmann warned that Sri Lanka will punish any slip ups.
The Scotsman said: “Sanath Jayasuriya showed in our warm-up game that he might play a big part in this World Cup. The little left-hander took a little time to get out of second gear, but once he adjusted to the pace of the wicket he was devastating. It was a lesson learned for our bowlers. At this level, anything remotely off line or length goes the distance. There is absolutely no margin for error.”
He added: “Many are tipping Sri Lanka to win the World Cup as the wickets in the Caribbean are not dissimilar to those on the sub continent — low and slow. Take into account the Muralitharan factor and they are going to take some beating.”
Bermuda to face the best off-spin bowler in the world
