Sunil Fernando, under whose tutelage the iconic Lankan off-spinner started his journey as a shy 9-year-old, recollects his favourite moments.
A local school coach in Kandy, Sunil Fernando took a fast bowler under his wings who later turned out to be the greatest off-spinner the world has ever seen. Muttiah Muralitharan, a nine-year-old shy lad, was taught the basics of cricket by Fernando. On Thursday, in Galle, he was overwhelmed by emotions as Murali took his 800th wicket on the last day of his final Test.
Fernando had accompanied Murali’s father, mother, wife and was there on the dais with everyone to give Murali much-needed support on his big day.
Sunil revealed that his heart wants Murali to carry on and reach at least 900 wickets. “I wasn’t expecting him to retire. He could have played more and taken more wickets but he has made up his mind so I didn’t say anything,” he told DNA.
“As a coach I feel very proud that my protege has reached the pinnacle where not everybody can reach. I am happy for his achievements. I am happy that he has retired as a champion bowler with 800 wickets. It is a great thing for him,” he said.
Fernando still remembers the day when he spotted young Murali playing cricket with a soft ball.
“I asked him if he wanted to play with a real ball. Then his mother brought him to me. He was a fast bowler at that time. One day I asked him to bowl off-cutters. He bowled and stunned me with his natural talent. He would get batsmen out from outside the off stump. It was then that I decided to make him a spinner. He had a natural action with a big spin which puzzled most batsmen,” he
recalled.
“There was a time when Murali took 200 wickets in just two years in local league. I realised he has it in him to play at the highest level.”
It was a difficult time for Murali when the umpires no-balled him in Australia but Fernando said that incident made him stronger.
“From his school-level days, no one had called him for no-balls. It was a pre-planned thing in Australia. Murali was bowling well.
They wanted to break him down psychologically. That’s why his off spinners were no-balled,” said Fernando. “Though it was a tough time for Murali, it made him stronger and he was determined to do well,” he added.
As a person, Murali is a gentleman, said Fernando. “He has a beautiful smile. He meets and greets everyone in the same manner like he did in the earlier days.”
So does he think there can be another great off-spinner?
“Why not? Somebody can break his record. But there can never be another Murali. He was a natural and a god-gifted talent,” he said.
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