Sri Lankan team relying on Muralitharan to help square series

Mumbai, Dec 1(ANI): Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara on Tuesday said that the team is relying upon veteran spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to strike in the third and final Test against India starting at Mumbai on Wednesday.

Addressing the media, Sangakkara said: "He is still our best spinner and he still might be the best spinner in the world. So, when you have that quality in the side you have to back that quality, and that ability. And it's no different for tomorrow. Murali is still the spearhead of our attack and we are backing him 100 percent to turn it around and win the match for us."

Muralitharan, the world record holder for most wickets in test and one-day cricket, has indicated that he will retire from the Test format next year, but the tourists hope that he will help them record their first Test win on Indian soil to square the series.

The 37-year-old has had a rough time in the first two Tests, managing just five wickets at the cost of 396 runs on unhelpful pitches.

Meanwhile, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also reckons that Muralitharan is still a dangerous player to deal with and that he can't be taken lightly.

"If you see our schedule, the way we are playing, every year we go to Sri Lanka or they come here, so we have seen more of Murali. We know what his strength is and accordingly, plan our innings," Dhoni said.

"So, I think he needs to work hard to get those wickets because we have played too many games together. But, he is still a very good bowler and on this track, you can see spinners coming into action. So, he is always a dangerous candidate to deal with," he added.

Sri Lanka lost last week's second Test in Kanpur by an innings and 144 runs, following which they are 1-0 behind in the series. (ANI)