Muralitharan does not deserve 'highest wicket-taker' record, Warne does: Emerson

Sydney, July 8(ANI): The Australian umpire, who called off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for chucking, does not believe that the Sri Lankan deserves to retire as the most prolific Test wicket-taker of all time.

"I haven't changed my view in 15 years - he doesn't deserve the record," The Courier Mail quoted Ross Emerson, as saying.

Emerson was banished from international cricket after no-balling Muralitharan in a ODI against England in Adelaide in 1999.

He further said that rather than Muralitharan, Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne deserves the record.

"You couldn't compare his record to Shane Warne's - no one ever doubted the legality of Warne's action. Murali was a great competitor and a great bowler, but a lot of the time he just didn't bowl within the limits of the law," Emerson said.

Muralitharan has confirmed that he will retire from Test cricket after the July 18 game against India in Galle.

With 792 Test wickets in his 17-year career, he will retire as the game's highest Test wicket-taker.

Muralitharan became the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket when he overtook the previous record-holder Warne in December 2007.

He had previously held the record when he surpassed Courtney Walsh's 519 wickets in 2004, but he suffered a shoulder injury later that year and was then overtaken by Warne.

The 38-year-old was rated the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2002. (ANI)