Murali and Kumble to join hands for academy

Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and Indian legend Anil Kumble plan to set up academy for youngsters.

NEW DEHLI: Record-breaking Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and retired Indian legend Anil Kumble plan to join hands to set up a spin academy for youngsters, the players were quoted as saying.

Muralitharan, who quit Test cricket last week after a final match against India in Galle, said he had first discussed the academy with leg-spinner Kumble two years ago and was now likely to take it up.

“I would like to be a part of it,” Muralitharan told The Indian Express. “I am not planning a career in coaching but if Kumble starts his academy, I will be happy to go.”

Muralitharan is the world’s highest wicket-taker in both Tests (800) and One-Day Internationals (515).

“It is in the pipeline. But it is Kumble’s call because he is arranging things for setting up the academy in Bangalore,” he added.

Kumble quit Test cricket last year with 619 wickets, the third highest after Muralitharan and Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, who finished with 708.

“I have been in touch with Muralitharan,” said Kumble. “However after his retirement from Tests I have not been able to speak to him. At the moment he must be busy with all the felicitations and he truly deserves it.

“Once he is free and I have time on my hands, we will sit down and chalk out plans in detail,” the leg-spinner was quoted as saying by the paper.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2010.