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Muttiah Muralitharan may play for Australia in 2nd Test against Pakistan

Australia want to add strength to their spin bowling department for the 2nd Test in Abu Dhabi.

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Muttiah Muralitharan has been with the Australian side as a spin-bowling coach  © Getty Images
Muttiah Muralitharan has been with the Australian side as a spin-bowling coach © Getty Images

By The Flying Freak

Please note this is a humour article — work of pure fiction

It is yet to be known whether it is a mark of desperation to win or an attempt to extend an olive branch to a cricketer their country ridiculed. Australia are in talks with their spin consultant Muttiah Muralitharan to play the second Test against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi.

The spinners for Australia in the first Test — Nathan Lyon and Steven O’Keefe — picked only six wickets between them conceding 439 runs in 112 overs. And this is the plight of Australia’s spin on a track where 15 of 20 Australian wickets were snapped by three spinners from Pakistan. Muralitharan remained tight-lipped about the developments but did not rule out accepting Cricket Australia’s offer.

While critics remained sceptical whether this ploy can help Australia draw level, the selectors are confident of a breakthrough. “If we can pick Steven O’Keefe only because a left-arm spinner called Rangana Herath took 23 wickets in two Tests, then we can even include Murali,” said a member of selection panel on condition of anonymity.

He further added: “Even though our batsmen are busy getting out to straight balls, we maintain that it is not the batting but spin bowling where our main problem lies. Hence Murali’s inclusion gives that extra boost to the team.” Cricket Australia’s latest decision may prove to be a good gamble. Murali has picked 80 wickets against Pakistan at an average of 25.46. Though its below his career average of 22.72, it is much better than Lyon’s average against Pakistan — 110!”

However the Australian batsmen are not being let off easily. It is said that players like Brad Haddin, Alex Doolan and Mitchell Marsh (who have messed up against spin) were seen practicing with demo version of 3D Simulator bowling machine. In the demo version, they have been provided only the regular off-spin of Murali, Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah. However, Cricket Australia has promised to buy the full version which has doosra, teesra (third one) and seedha (straight one) in the package if the team continues to struggle against spin.

Complete coverage of Pakistan vs Australia in UAE

(The Flying Freak eats, lives, drinks cricket, but likes to mix up the sport with everything. An aspiring vocalist, he is aiming to win the Ghanta Awards soon.)

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