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Murali's time to go ahead

AFP, Galle
Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan is all set to take a lead over arch-rival Shane Warne when he returns to his favourite hunting ground Wednesday for the first Test against South Africa.
Muralitharan, who shares the world record of 527 Test wickets with Aussie leg-spinner Warne, is sure to sprint ahead after giving his rival a chance to catch up by missing a Test series in Australia.
The off-spinner has an astounding tally of 82 wickets in 10 Tests on the spin-friendly track at the Galle International Stadium, where his team have won six of 10 matches and lost just two.
It is also the venue where Sri Lanka registered their lone win in 13 Tests against South Africa, with whom they lock horns in a two-Test series.
The first Test starts in Galle on Aug 4 and the second in Colombo on August 11. The Tests will be followed by five one-dayers from August 20 to 31.
Records may favour South Africa, who have won eight Tests against Sri Lanka, but they have the feared Muralitharan to contend with even though he is not allowed to bowl the controversial 'doosra', his away-going delivery.
Muralitharan, who boycotted a two-Test series down under following comments from Australian Prime Minister John Howard that he was a
chucker, took 13 wickets in the Test win over South Africa fouryears ago.
Sri Lanka have done well to adjust to both forms of the game in the recent past.
They drew the second Test in Australia last month, and switching to the shorter format immediately on
return, won the Asia Cup one-day tournament that ended on Sunday.
In less than three full days they have to once again play a Test against a side that is fresh, not having played international cricket since their tour of New Zealand in February-March.
South Africa had an opportunity to shake off their rust in a three-day side game against a Sri Lankan Board President'sXI, which ended in a draw.
Captain Graeme Smith struck an unbeaten 85 in the second innings after an unimpressive batting display in the first innings by his team while paceman Makhaya Ntini shone with a five-wicket haul in the first innings.
If Sri Lanka ensured they were not blanked in the series in Australia which ended 1-0 in the hosts' favour, South Africa too did well to draw a three-Test series against New Zealand 1 -1.
Both teams are now hoping to use the series to prepare for the season ahead.
"A good tour here would give us a lot of confidence going forward," said Smith. "It certainly won't be an easy series but we are looking forward to the challenges."
Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu hopes to carry forward his team's success from the Asia Cup which they won beating India in the final.
"We have been playing well and can continue winning if we stick to the basics and play well as a team," said Atapattu.
For South Africa, Herschelle Gibbs has been ruled out of the first Test because of a sprained ankle with young left-handed opener Andrew Puttick drafted in.
Puttick returns to Sri Lanka after having toured here for the under-19 World Cup in 1999.
Sri Lanka too have named an uncapped opener in Ian Daniel after his consistent performances for the under-19 and Sri Lanka A sides.