MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN reached the history-making 800 Test wickets landmark on the last day of his final Test match against India in Galle.
And the man who gave Sri Lankan star Murali his magical moment – none other than Pragyan Ojha, who three years ago was on the books of our very own Drakes Huddersfield League club Slaithwaite!
Unfortunately, Ojha was able to play only three games in 2007 before being recalled home to India to perform in a series of Test trials.
Now he will be indelibly printed in the history books as the man who became Murali’s 800th scalp.
At one stage it did appear that the spin king would end up on 799, having earlier picked up the wicket of Yuvraj Singh, especially as Lasith Malinga had already taken five wickets and looked likely to mop up India’s tail.
And then the new ball was taken and a Murali off-break seemingly had VVS Laxman in front, but umpire Daryl Harper didn’t budge.
Just when it looked it may never come, it did.
Ojha edged a flighted off break to Mahela Jayawardene, the 77th time he had taken a slip catch off Murali. Another world record.
Murali roared, his teammates swarmed around, his wife and mother jumped out of their seats, the crowd cleared their throats and the fireworks exploded.
Afterwards, he was grateful to those who had helped him on the way.
“I’d like to thank Sri Lanka president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, for coming to support me,” he said. “Thanks to my wife and family for their support. To my teammates, past and present, to the cricket board and officials, and the public of Sri Lanka.
“Thank you for supporting me all through these 19 years.”
Muralitharan made his Test debut in 1992 against Australia but became embroiled in controversy three years later when he was called for throwing by umpire Darrell Hair.
Muralitharan insists he bears no grudges against Hair, and also Ross Emerson who twice called him for throwing.
