Bedi has been an untiring critic of Muralitharan by repeatedly calling the Sri Lankan a "chucker" and asking the ICC to ban the Sri Lankan's "doosra" as it was illegal.
A belligerent Muttiah Muralitharan took on long-time critic Bishan Singh Bedi on Wednesday, calling the former India left-arm spinner an “ordinary bowler” and someone who would have been “summarily hammered had he been playing in this era.”
Bedi had been a constant critic of Murali, calling to question his bowling action and had also suggested that ICC should ban the doosra as it is “illegal.” Murali, who had been silent so far, launched an uncharacteristic tirade against Bedi on Wednesday.
“Bedi...I don’t think he even comes to a contest on that (great bowlers). I saw some (of his) bowling of his playing days. In modern era, if he plays he will get hammered every ball...That is what will happen. So no comparison,” he said.
“Prasanna is a good bowler. I have seen his bowling. Venkataraghavan is good. But Bedi does not come under it,” he said. “He (Bedi) is also a controversial person. He has lot of controversies everywhere in the world. And he should think about himself first rather than talking about other people,” the retired offie said.
On Bedi’s comments that the “doosra” should be banned, Murali said: “He (Bedi) did not have any variation. He just bowled left arm spin and the pitch did the variation for him. That is what he bowled,” he said.
“You forget the best spinner is Anil Kumble. Not Bedi or Venkataraghavan or any other. I think the best ever spinner produced (in India) is Kumble. No doubt about it and nobody can doubt it. Statistics-wise and on the basis of other things, he is far ahead than other guys,” he said.
A week after he took his leave from Test cricket in Galle, the iconic off-spinner has been busy working on future charity projects and spending time with family.
On Day 3 of the second Test, Murali finally spoke to media, the first time since his retirement.
The man who reached the milestone of 800 Test wickets in the 1st Test at
Galle said he is enjoying his life at the moment and is not missing the game much.
“Life has been pretty enjoyable and I hope to continue like this. There is no pressure to bowl longer spells under the scorching sun any more,” he told DNA at a seven star hotel on Wednesday.
“So far I am planning to be engaged with Twenty20 cricket, and then if my team wants me to be there for the World Cup, I will be available for them. Then I have some charity plans to do. As we did in Seenigama (where he built 1,000 houses along with manager Kushil Gunasekara for Tsunami victims), we are planning to have a similar project in Jaffna. We are planning to build a 1000 houses and big facilities for sporting activities, and medical supervision for under-privileged children in the northern area,” he revealed.
Murali hasn’t decided to start a spin academy of his own so far. He thinks it is “too early” and in any case he would be busy playing county and other matches.
“No plans so far for academies. But Anil (Kumble) wants to do something for the spinners in Bangalore hence I would definitely will help him with that,” he added.
Talking about his stint, he said he was never discriminated at despite being the only Tamil in the Sri Lankan team. “There was never any discrimination. Everyone was united,” he said.
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