Know who comes out on top in the Shane Warne vs Muttiah Muralitharan matchup, who is the best spin bowler in cricket and who has the most wickets
For years, there has been a heated argument about whether Shane Warne or Muttiah Muralitharan is the greatest bowler of all time.
It began when both were still playing international cricket and has continued since they both retired from Test match cricket between 2007 and 2010.Warne was a leg-spinner who revitalised a dying sport, while Muralitharan was the best off-spinner of his period.
Both terrorised batters from over the world, both at home and abroad, and were among the greatest for more than a decade.There are several indicators that can help us figure out who was the greatest in Test matches, the most difficult version of the game and one in which they both excelled.
Shane Warne vs Muttiah Muralitharan, Most Test Wickets, Best Figures, Who Is The Best Spinner
Let’s Take A Look And See What We Can Figure Out.
Records
| Name | Matches | Wickets | Average | BBI |
| S. Warne | 145 | 708 | 25.41 | Aug-71 |
| M. Muralitharan | 133 | 800 | 22.72 | Sep-51 |
First and foremost, both players and the total stats they completed their careers with should be considered as a starting point.
Warne was the first to retire in 2007, with 708 wickets at an average of slightly over 25, and was the leading wicket taker in Test cricket at the time.
Muralitharan then came after him in 2010, breaking Warne’s record and going on to score 800 runs in one-day internationals till the following year.With his final Test ball, the Sri Lankan reached 800 wickets, completing a fairytale finale to an illustrious career in international cricket.
Muralitharan takes the lead at this point based on those numbers alone, as well as his lower average.
So, Muttiah Muralitharan has an advantage.
Home Records
| Matches | Wickets | Average | BBI | |
| S. Warne | 69 | 319 | 26.39 | Aug-71 |
| M. Muralitharan | 73 | 493 | 19.56 | Sep-51 |
We’ll start our study into whether Warne or Muralitharan was the superior bowler by considering at their total bowling numbers when they played at home.
Muralitharan thrived on Sri Lanka’s spin-friendly pitches, taking over 500 wickets at an average of under 20 in just 73 Test matches.He took five wickets in an innings 45 times, and 15 times he got ten or more wickets in a game, both of which are incredible accomplishments.
Meanwhile, on his home soil of Australia, Warne played 69 matches and took 319 wickets at an average of 26.39, figures that are all surpassed by Muralitharan.
Although Sri Lankan surfaces are significantly more favourable to spin bowling than Australian pitches, Murali’s numbers are comparable to Warne’s.
After this round, Muralitharan seemed to have the upper hand.
So, Muttiah Muralitharan has an upper hand.
Records Away
| Matches | Wickets | Average | BBI | |
| S. Warne | 73 | 362 | 25.5 | 7-165 |
| M. Muralitharan | 60 | 307 | 27.79 | Sep-65 |
Things get a little more tricky when the two bowlers are away from home, as their foreign Test numbers are extremely similar.
Outside of Sri Lanka, Warne played more matches, took more wickets, and did so at a slightly higher average than Muralitharan.He did not, however, capture as many five-wicket hauls as Muralitharan did—20 to Muralitharan’s 22—so it is more closer than it appears at first look.
It’s also worth noting that Warne averaged 21.45 in eight Tests in Sri Lanka, whereas Murali averaged 75.41 in just five games in Australia.
Since a result, after considering all factors, Warne gets the edge on this one, as he was the somewhat better performer away from home.
Outside of his native country, Murali was a genuine handful, but the Australian has the upper hand here.
So, Shane Warne has the upper hand.
Conclusion
To summarise, Muralitharan is the winner by a margin of 2-1, based on a very simplistic addition of our numerous parameters.