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'Hungry' Murali may extend career
Muralitharan is closing in on Shane Warne's world record
Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan may play on for another four years to achieve 1,000 wickets in Test cricket.
Muralitharan, 35, reached 700 - eight short of Shane Warne's world record - as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by an innings to seal a 3-0 series triumph.
"It is a big achievement taking 700 wickets but I think I can achieve a little bit more," Muralitharan said.
"The challenge is whether I can take 1,000 before I retire. I'm thinking about playing till the next World Cup."
Two Tests in Australia in November will give him a chance to take over from Warne.
But the off-spinner, who has been targeted by Australian fans in the past over his unorthodox action, is playing down expectations about achieving the feat there.
"The record will come in the near future, but I'm not sure it will happen in Australia because the wickets there usually help fast bowlers," he said.
"I don't know how much I will get to bowl in Australia because our fast bowlers could grab most of the wickets."
Muralitharan has played 113 Tests since making his debut in Australia in 1992 and moved from 600 to 700 Test wickets in just 12 matches.
"So many years at the top takes a lot out of you but I am still hungry for wickets and that is what matters," he added.
Muralitharan is closing in on Shane Warne's world record
Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan may play on for another four years to achieve 1,000 wickets in Test cricket.
Muralitharan, 35, reached 700 - eight short of Shane Warne's world record - as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by an innings to seal a 3-0 series triumph.
"It is a big achievement taking 700 wickets but I think I can achieve a little bit more," Muralitharan said.
"The challenge is whether I can take 1,000 before I retire. I'm thinking about playing till the next World Cup."
Two Tests in Australia in November will give him a chance to take over from Warne.
But the off-spinner, who has been targeted by Australian fans in the past over his unorthodox action, is playing down expectations about achieving the feat there.
"The record will come in the near future, but I'm not sure it will happen in Australia because the wickets there usually help fast bowlers," he said.
"I don't know how much I will get to bowl in Australia because our fast bowlers could grab most of the wickets."
Muralitharan has played 113 Tests since making his debut in Australia in 1992 and moved from 600 to 700 Test wickets in just 12 matches.
"So many years at the top takes a lot out of you but I am still hungry for wickets and that is what matters," he added.
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