2010-07-24 13:41:54

Sri Lanka cricket icon pays tribute to Catholic education


(July 24, 2010) Sri Lankan cricket star Muthiah Muralitharan has paid tribute to his Catholic education after ending a glorious test career, becoming the first bowler in history to take 800 test wickets. “I was blessed with excellent priests, teachers and coaches,” said Muralitharan said after helping his team beat India by 10 wickets in Galle, Sri Lanka, on Thursday. The combination of playing cricket and studying hard at St. Anthony’s College, in Kandy put him in good stead for his future cricketing career, the off-spinner and national icon told Ucanews. Muralitharan, 38, is a Tamil Hindu but his father was determined to send him and his three brothers to a Christian school. “Christian schools provide better education, sports and moral development,” said his father, Sinnathambi Muthiah. Muralitharan was sent to St. Anthony’s, a boarding school, where his cricketing skills grew and flourished. It was also where Muralitharan developed a strong character and learned to take knocks in his stride. These lessons were to serve him well during his career, especially when he was accused of an illegal bowling action. He was later cleared. Muralitharan needed eight wickets in his final test to reach 800, which he did in the second innings after having tailender Pragyan Ojha caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene.







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