Kevin and I have just seen Muttiah Muralitharan set a new world record for the most wickets in a test career. It was an exceptionally sweet moment for Murali to do so in his home town of Kandy with all of his relatives, and even the boys from the school he attended, there to see him make history. As a sometime Victorian I am, of course, honor bound to believe that Shane Warne was a better bowler, and certainly Warne would have taken more wickets if Glen McGrath hadn’t been around to share his hauls, but Murali’s (current) 710 wickets is an amazing achievement and he shows every sign of carrying on for some time and adding significantly to his total. His is a record that may last a very long time.

Kudos also to Ryan Sidebottom for holding out for so long and helping put England in a potentially winning position. And sympathy to Paul Collingwood who really didn’t deserve to become a historically significant victim. Meanwhile, back to the game.