Tribute to a living legend

Iam delighted to see Murali quit the test arena as he did...This is a day that I will rejoice for a long time to follow. To summarise the man, the performer and an entertainer he is, Iam collating some of the quotes on Murali by some of his colleagues and counterparts.

Mahela Jayawardane as quoted to the Guardian:
"He is the sort of guy you want in the dressing room, but sometimes you think: 'Why is he in the dressing room - he won't stop talking!' When he exhausts us, he goes to see the opposition. He is the only player I have ever known who spends more time in the opponents' dressing room than his own. You never sit next to him on an aeroplane because you won't get any sleep. Lal, the masseur, has that job. But ask him to make a speech and you will be lucky to get 10 words."

Sanath Jayasuriya quotes “He was the first guy to take any newcomer to dinner and making sure that he has smooth transition into the team. Till date, Since he was 19, He made sure that every single debutant was helped to understand what it takes to compete at the highest level for SRILANKAN cricket”

Murali answering Tony Greig after his final test “Yes, In Australia, I had asked Arjuna Ranatunga to take me off from bowling after having taken 3 wickets. I was very young then and din’t know how to give interview speeches. I had asked Arjuna to take me off from my spell so that I could prepare my interview speech, just in case, I was adjudged Man of the match” 


Mahela on one of the funny incidents in the Srilankan Dressing room:
I remember Murali hitting Darren Gough for a six one year at Lord’s. It was a low full toss that he tried to hit to midwicket and it went sailing over extra cover. He marched into the dressing room afterwards with a big smile, telling us all what a fine shot it was. Then we pointed out the video replay and the red mark on the edge of his bat. He was livid.

Madhi Malar Ramamurthy quotes:
“Every time Murali picks up a wicket, my heart starts beating faster. Tears of joy just flow down my cheeks when I realise how special he is to the people of Sri Lanka, how much they love him and how much he means to them. I have never seen anybody in any sphere of life get this kind of a farewell. I am proud to be Murali’s wife"

Murali to Andrew Flintoff while playing for Lancashire:
While others are afraid to voice their opinions after a team-mate loses his wicket, Murali can't resist. A towering Andrew Flintoff stormed into the dressing room, ashen-faced, having failed to end a lean trot. Murali sauntered over casually. "What happened - another shit shot?"

Charlie Austin, former Sri Lanka editor on Murali's Down to earth personality:
I travelled with him to the tsunami-hit town of Batticaloa on Sri Lanka's east coast. Murali had single-handedly organised about 10 lorries of emergency supplies for distribution in the relief camps. In the evening we stopped at the Polonnaruwa Rest House to catch some sleep. They only had three bedrooms available for about 10 of us. Murali not only insisted on paying, he steadfastly refused to take a bed, spread a sheet on the floor, grabbed a pillow and slept happily.

As we run for the medals...

Its been a footballing week that has left mixed feeling in me. Arsenal have done brilliantly well in winning the game against Stoke city and securing all the three points and they have closed in the gap with Chelsea and ManU.

Aaron Ramsey, The 19-year-old suffered a double fracture at the Britannia stadium following a strong challenge from Ryan Shawcross. This the worst injuries I have witnessed ever in my life. I could add a picture or a video but Iam refraining just to avoid the sickening feeling of seeing something so Horrifying. The Welshman is the third Arsenal player to suffer a serious break in the past four years.
The game that arsenal play is a treat to watch in a sense that the passes and movement is so elegant.The arsene's squad.. they neva give an impression that football is muscular game contradictory to what stoke and some footballing clubs are known far.
I remember Arsene wenger had asked his side to ‘toughen up’ at times, stressing on being strong physically and as he quotes “I have a go at them when they don’t put their foot in sometimes".I believe its imp to exhibit a muscular game at times, if you are looking to win the silverware at the fastest paced footballing leagues of the world.

Ramsey is 19 year old and one of the most brilliant footballing talents around, was starting to just make a mark in the football arena and was one of the brightest footballing prospects in my opinion. An injury of this nature could be career-ending one or even if he returns back, Iam not sure if he would be as effective as he was. It was not worth losing a player for the three points in the title race, but then, this is the game and thats how it is played. Injuries, recoveries and unfair advantages are a part of most sports.

However, I wish Ramsey recovers superfast and be back with the same strength and niche. I wish and Iam very optimistic that gunners would win the title for Aaron Ramsey.