Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

[mighty_west]

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sports/muralitharan-set-to-sign-for-victoria-bushrangers_100212856.html

July 3rd, 2009 - 3:48 pm ICT by IANS

Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is all set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers for the Twenty20 Big Bash and play as local hero at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the same venue where 14 years ago he was labelled a chucker by umpire Darrel Hair.
“Murali has been in touch with the authorities in Cricket Victoria, he is pretty keen to represent Victoria. If it goes through it will be great news. It will be magnificent if that happens - I think it will. It’s just a matter of signing,” Murali’s manager Kushil Gunasekera was quoted as saying by The Age.

Muralitharan, the highest wicket-taker in Tests, will be the fourth international star after Dwayne Bravo (Bushrangers), Chris Gayle (Western Australia) and Lasith Malinga (Tasmania) to sign for the Twenty20 Big Bash.

Each state can contract two foreign imports for the Big Bash.

“I’m glad that he has consented to do this. It would bring a lot of goodwill as well as put everything in the past behind him. You can’t have a bright future if you can’t forget the past,” Gunasekera added.

[mighty_west]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers [The Age - 25/8]

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-sport/murali-set-to-play-twenty20-for-victoria-20090825-exyl.html

Murali set to play Twenty20 for Victoria
Adam Cooper
August 25, 2009 - 6:44PM

Muttiah Muralitharan is poised to call the MCG home with Victoria ready to announce the Sri Lankan offspinner a star import for the summer's domestic Twenty20 cricket tournament.

The Bushrangers are expected to announce on Wednesday that Test cricket's leading wicket taker has signed for the next domestic tournament, and join Victoria's other international signing, West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo.

The return of Muralitharan, 37, to the MCG will complete a remarkable cycle for the bowler, as it will be 14 years since he was famously no-balled for throwing during the 1995 Boxing Day Test.

Australian states can sign two internationals for next year's Twenty20 competition, and among the other stars already signed are the West Indies' Chris Gayle (Western Australia) and Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga (Tasmania).

The influx of world stars will boost the profile of the state Twenty20 competition, which will begin on December 28 and finish on January 23.

The competition provides a huge incentive for sides given the finalists receive a gold-pass entry into the Champions League competition, which features the best domestic Twenty20 sides across the world.

NSW, last summer's Twenty20 champion, and Victoria, the beaten finalist, will be Australia's representatives in the inaugural Champions League, scheduled to be played in India in October.

But the Blues and Bushrangers are yet to learn whether they will have their star players available, as Victoria could lose paceman Dirk Nannes and NSW could be denied opener David Warner to their Indian Premier League franchise, the Delhi Daredevils.

Nannes and Warner were regulars for Delhi in the last IPL tournament, and the clout of the Indian sides means Australian states could be below full-strength.

Delhi must compensate Victoria and NSW $US200,000 ($A238,805) each if they opt to have both stars playing against their home sides in India.

Victoria and NSW are yet to confirm their squads for the tournament while negotiations with IPL franchises continue.

Victorian captain Cameron White (Bangalore) and allrounder Andrew McDonald (Delhi) and NSW paceman Nathan Bracken (Bangalore) are others who had two teams qualify for the Champions League.

But that trio is likely to represent their Australian sides as they were only bit-part players in the IPL.

But NSW must decide whether to pay New Zealand side Otago for the services of hard-hitting wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, whom the Blues secured for last summer's Australian final.

Otago will be the one New Zealand side among the 12 playing in India, alongside the Bushrangers, Blues, Bangalore, Delhi, the Deccan Chargers, two teams each from South Africa and England and one each from Sri Lanka and the Caribbean.

The final squads are expected to be named later this week.

Meanwhile, the Victorian Spirit have named batter Rachael Haynes as captain and wicketkeeper Emma Inglis her deputy for the coming Women's National Cricket League season.

Haynes succeeds Sarah Elliott (nee Edwards), who led the Spirit for the past four seasons, while Inglis takes over from Clea Smith, the side's vice-captain for the last eight seasons.

© 2009 AAP

[mighty_west]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

Well i suppose if a 37 year old spin king is good enough for the Vics, a 34 year old Barry Hall is good enough for the Dogs...

In all seriousness, what does that say for McGain? and what happens IF the Vics make the Indian comp with Bravo & Murali playing, do they then play for the Vics in the Indian comp or their IPL sides?

[Mantis]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

No-ball!!!

All self-respecting cricket fans know this bloke is a 'chucker'. Why the hell would they bring out such a player which will deny another 'Victorian' player exposure in high pressure situations which will hopefully improve them as players?

What a joke!

[Remi Moses]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

Seems like a lovely bloke Murali,just sad that he's allowed to bowl with that action. Just seems like winning the comp and the Coin involved is paramount.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

No-ball!!!

All self-respecting cricket fans know this bloke is a 'chucker'. Why the hell would they bring out such a player which will deny another 'Victorian' player exposure in high pressure situations which will hopefully improve them as players?

What a joke!

What he said

[Missing Dog]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

But if I recall correctly he has chosen the bulldogs as his afl tean through a connection with his dr

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

A sad reflection our next generation of cricketers are crap. And, won't get a chance to improve.

[mighty_west]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

A sad reflection our next generation of cricketers are crap. And, won't get a chance to improve.

Money talks, and the Indians are taking over World cricket, their IPL 20/20 has changed cricket as we know it.

[Topdog]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

In all seriousness, what does that say for McGain? a

That he isn't the best spinner in the World.....or 2nd best at worst.

[GVGjr]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

Nothing against him but we don't need to import cricketers from other countries. I know it's only T20 cricket but the Vics should have a few boys looking for the spot he will occupy.

[ledge]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

This is the reason English cricket struggles because they have too many foreigners, robbing them of more home players to pick or teach.

Its great to see the best and be taught by the best, i have no doubt these players will bring a lot to teaching up and coming players but can i ask with Australia being so good the last 20 years why change a great system to having less players to choose from?

[Twodogs]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

Meh! It's only T20. I like watching it and it's entertaining and all that but it's not worth getting worked up about.


McGain wouldnt have played T20 anyway would he?

[Mantis]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

McGain wouldnt have played T20 anyway would he?

If my memory serves me correctly McGain performed very well in T20 & OD cricket last season (and in previous seasons)

[Twodogs]

Re: Muralitharan set to sign for Victoria Bushrangers

If my memory serves me correctly McGain performed very well in T20 & OD cricket last season (and in previous seasons)

I guess his lack of batting is unlikely to be exposed. In fact I have a theory about T20. I reckon that it will herlad the return of the skilled gloveman(in T20 level anyway) because you dont really need any more than 6 batsmen.

Lets face it if you lose more than 5 wickets in 20 overs then you are going to be struggling anyway. I think that teams will start to include keepers who can actually keep because that will have a huge affect on fielding standards and it doesnt matter if he cant bat, because he doesnt really need to.