SRI LANKAN spin bowler Muthiah Muralidaran believes it is possible he will take 1000 Test wickets before he retires, but admits it will be tough.
The veteran has taken 674 Test wickets, which puts him second on the all-time list behind Shane Warne, but recognises that, at 34, he has a long way to go if he is to reach four figures.
"It's a tough one," Muralidaran told Sri Lanka's The Island newspaper. "I am 34 now and if I go on for another five years without an injury that's possible I guess. But it's depends on my form and how I feel and lot of other things. We'll see."
Muralidaran revealed he would cut down on his one-day commitments after next year's World Cup.
"The workload is huge and there's no point in playing each and every ODI competition or tournament," he said. "I'll just cut down on the ODI matches. It's not that I don't like one-day cricket, but it's just too hectic.
"There are couple of other spinners and the selectors should take a look at them as well. I am really impressed with Malinga Bandara, he's done a good job for us. Even Rangana Herath was doing well when I was injured and Upul Chandana has come up with some good efforts at A-team level."
&http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/murali-takes-aim-at-1000-test-wickets-before-retiring/2006/12/26/#183; New Zealand waltzed to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second and final Twenty20 international yesterday to level the series.
Nathan Astle was in blistering form with an unbeaten 40 off 37 balls, hitting the winning run with nine balls remaining.
Sri Lanka never fired after being sent into bat first, falling 10 balls short of its allotted 20 overs as its innings came to a halt at 115.
It became a formality for New Zealand to reach the 116 required.
Brendon McCullum and Stephen Fleming started the run chase at a rollicking pace, reaching 51 by the sixth over.
Sri Lanka was in deep trouble at 6-58 by the 10th over and if not for a tailend bash by Lasith Malinga and Dilharo Fernando its innings may have ended much earlier.
Malinga's 27 came from 19 and Fernando hit 21 from 14, whacking 44 in four overs for the ninth wicket.
Sri Lanka won the rain-affected first match in Wellington on Friday by 18 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis calculation method.
The two teams play the first of five one-day matches in Napier tomorrow.
&http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/murali-takes-aim-at-1000-test-wickets-before-retiring/2006/12/26/#183; Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan will leave South Africa early to ensure he rediscovers his form in time for next year's World Cup, captain Rahul Dravid said.
Pathan took just one wicket and conceded 136 runs in the 21 overs he bowled in the three one-dayers against South Africa.
"He's an important player for the World Cup and we need to try and make sure he is in form for the tournament," Dravid said.
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