A source of inspiration and wonder

Put him up in front of a TV camera or microphone, and Muttiah Muralitharan will blush and appear shy, his face creased by a nervous smile and his answers, despite good English now, short and sharp. But let him stand up in a team meeting and he can hijack the floor. A bundle of energy and enthusiasm with a never-ending flow of forceful opinions, he is the centrifugal figure in Sri Lankan cricket.

Murali the man is difficult to unravel, a complex personality riddled with contradictions. An individual both mentally tough and emotionally vulnerable, outwardly effervescent but ultimately introverted, socially cool and calculating, but also hot-headed and wildly passionate, warm and friendly to some, but cold and distant to others.

For Sri Lankans, his story is a source of inspiration and pride. Indeed, it's been a two-decade journey of self-discovery, for Murali and Sri Lanka cricket, as the game has transformed him from the shy son of a Tamil biscuit manufacturer into a confident, iron-willed and supremely successful international sportsman - and now the most prolific wicket-taker in the world. Murali, in turn, has propelled the Sri Lanka team into world cricket's top tier.

It has been a bumpy ride at times, but the darkest moments of his career, including the current controversy over his doosra, have also been key ingredients in his success, making him more resilient and ever more determined and ambitious. He was first driven to play for his first XI, a desire that prompted his metamorphosis from a wayward schoolboy medium pacer into an offspinner. He then started dreaming about a national cap. That was followed by the ultimate milestone, Courtney Walsh's crown, an ambition that has been uppermost in his mind during the last couple of years.

But while a fierce individual ambition has pushed him higher and higher, his hunger for milestones has never detracted from his unwavering commitment to the team's cause, no matter whether he is playing for Tamil Union, his domestic club in Colombo, Janashakthi Insurance, his loyal employers who have looked after him since his youth, or Sri Lanka, a country that he so obviously loves. His total dedication to the achievement of team success has led to many overheated team meetings over the years, but no player has ever questioned his loyalty.

Like so many sporting superstars, his success owes much to a fierce work ethic. Murali has bowled over 30,000 deliveries in Test cricket already, and many times that in practice. He has started to reduce his workload after the first worrying signs of wear and tear to his body, but it's still common for him to drag out the coach for extra bowling after a full practice. He will bowl and bowl for hours to make sure his rhythm is perfect.

But aside from the fierce ambition, the commitment to the team and the exhausting work ethic, Murali will perhaps be best remembered for his uplifting approach to the game. Some professionals treat cricket as a job, for others it's a hobby, but for Murali it is an all-consuming passion, a source of joy and fun. He plays the game hard but always with a smile. Youngsters cannot copy his unique bowling action, because it is unnatural for those without his super-flexible limbs, but he remains a role model nonetheless.

The chucking controversies will perhaps forever cast a cloud over his reputation in some quarters - although he is confident that biomechanics experts will prove his action to be fair when further research is completed at the end of the year. However, Murali can rest assured that when he finally hangs up his boots, sometime around the 2007 World Cup, he will be remembered fondly by millions throughout the cricket world. In Sri Lanka, he will remain a source of inspiration and wonder for generations to come.