Murali Fact File

The most significant dates from the 18-year Test career of Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

The most significant dates from the 18-year career of Muttiah Muralitharan, who has announced his retirement from Test cricket. 1972: Born Kandy, April 17. 1991: Selected for Sri Lanka A's tour of England. 1992: Makes Test debut against Australia in Colombo. 1995: No-balled in Melbourne Test against Australia by umpire Darrell Hair for throwing. 1996: No-balled in Brisbane Test against Australia by umpire Ross Emerson for throwing. 1996: Bowling action cleared by International Cricket Council. 1998: Takes nine for 65 against England at The Oval. 1999: Joins Lancashire and takes 66 wickets in just six County Championship games. 1999: No-balled again for throwing by Emerson in Brisbane Test against Australia; action once again cleared by ICC. 2001: Plays for Lancashire again and takes 50 wickets in seven County Championship matches. 2001: Becomes fastest ever bowler to take 350 Test wickets, achieving the feat in 66 matches. 2002: Takes nine for 51 in first innings of second Test against Zimbabwe in Kandy. 2004: March - Becomes third bowler in history to take 500 Test wickets, during second Test against Australia. 2004: May - Becomes highest wicket-taker in Test history - overtaking Courtney Walsh's 519 victims. 2006: March - Takes 600th Test wicket in second Test against Bangladesh in Bogra a week after becoming first man to reach 1,000 in all international cricket. 2006: June - Takes eight for 70 to help Sri Lanka win by 134 runs to level the npower Test series against England at Trent Bridge. 2007: March/April - Takes 23 wickets at World Cup to help Sri Lanka to final. 2007: July - With last of 26 wickets in three-Test series against Bangladesh, on his home ground at Kandy, becomes second player - after his great spin rival Shane Warne - to reach 700 Test wickets. 2007: December 3 - Back at Kandy again, Murali bowls Paul Collingwood to go above Warne as Test cricket's leading all-time wicket-taker with 709. 2008: July - Takes 11 for 110 as Sri Lanka win the first Test against India in Colombo in a match which featured a debut for a new spin sensation, Ajantha Mendis. 2009: February 5 - Takes 503rd one-day international wicket against India, breaking Wasim Akram's record. 2009: February 21 - Takes 770th Test wicket against Pakistan in Karachi. 2009: July 30 - Takes 507th ODI wicket against Pakistan in Dambulla; announces he plans to retire from Test cricket after the November 2010 series against West Indies. 2010: July 6 - Brings forward date of retirement to end of first Test against India, which begins July 18.