It's great to be at par with Sachin: Murali

COLOMBO: Muttiah Muralitharan is hell bent on proving his critics wrong. Ever since he was called for throwing in 1995 for the first time, the Sri Lankan off spinner has had to endure barbs about his bowling action.
But the son of a Tamil confectioner swallowed the bitter pills and spun his cricketing career like no other bowler has done before.
Now, he towers over twin peaks having become the highest wicket taker in Tests (769 wickets) and ODIs (503 wickets).
The ODI feat came in a losing cause against India on Thursday afternoon still there were a few Lankans celebrating his record with a fireworks display in the stadium after the match. The legend then spoke on his past and the struggle in a media interaction.
Excerpts:
At par with sachin
It's a great achievement (of holding both the Tests and ODI records) for me and my country, because the only other person who has achieved it (a similar record, in batting) is Sachin Tendulkar. Everyone wants to play well in both forms of the game. Holding records in both forms of the game means I have done really well for such a long period of 18 years.
It is not all that sweet
It's not easy be physically and mentally fit for such a lone time. Because we play so much cricket sometimes ups and downs are there. Still you have to put your head down and come back tomorrow and try to do well. So it's not all that sweet. It all depends on strong you are and how you come back
It is also about winning matches
When I took 500 wickets (in Pakistan) there was more celebrations (because we won). It's not all about breaking records, it also about winning matches and series. Unfortunately, the record has happened in a lost series.
Bade my time for the records
I never thought (about records) because three bowlers were contesting for the world Test record itself: myself, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble. I thought they are older than me and will retire before me. Only then I could have overcome them. That's what happened. In the One-dayers, I didn't think about it at all because there was no one closer.
Retirement after world cup 2011
I don't know anything other than playing cricket, that is my motivation. Everything is going well now...the body is right and mentally too I'm fit. I am thinking of playing till the World Cup 2011. There is no desire to achieve anything else.