Muralitharan has earned his record

IT IS about time that people got off Muttiah Muralitharan's back.

The fact the Sri Lankan spin king now holds the world record for Test wickets - and that in considerably less than 100 games - is just a phenomenal strike rate.

But still the argument about the former Lancashire player's action has rumbled and that should be laid to rest.

People say 'Is it wrong' or 'Is it right', but having seen him in action at close quarters all I can say is that it is just different.

But what is ridiculous is that Muttiah's style has been called into question three or four times now and every time it has been judged to be legal.

All it needs is for someone to make a final decision. That is how he bowls , they have all the evidence they want on video and someone should be able to make a definite ruling.

To question what he does again makes no sense. If they do and the answer is 'no' then does he start being banned or get stripped of his records?

To me Muttiah has got his 520-plus wickets legitimately and that is how things are.

When he was with us at Lancashire, he was exactly the kind of guy that you see when he his interviewed on the television.

He is just so open. He has a big smile, big gleaming eyes and he is so keen to play that he is frankly annoying.

But to be serious he is a captain's dream because he would bowl every ball if he was given a chance.

He is just perfect as he will bowl economically and also still be on the attack and taking wickets - he really is a top man.

And it is not as though the wickets he has taken have been gained on home tracks that have been tailored to his needs.

He has taken wickets at the top level, against the top teams, all around the world and the frightening fact is that he has plenty of time to add another 250 or 300 Test victims and set a record that really will take some beating.

Cairns and Co are a big threat

NEW Zealand have sneaked into the country almost unnoticed and that sums up the danger that they pose to England in the coming series that starts in 19 days time.

England have returned victorious from a Test series in the Caribbean, but if the home side needed a Test series to act as a yardstick as to just how far that has taken us - well this is it!

There are three Tests against the Black Caps and it will be tough to come away with a series win.

They are really a battling side and have a squad who are used to English cricket as they have a wealth of knowledge through players who have played in the County Championship.

They enjoyed a good home series against the South Africans this winter and a little over a year ago they made Australia scrap for every last run.

England will not be allowed to run away with they idea that they are a good side on the back of what happened in the West Indies because you can rely on New Zealand to produce gutsy performances and fight all the way.

Unlike other tourists England holds no fears for New Zealand.

They are used to the cold, the rain and wickets that can 'do a bit' because the conditions at home are so similar.

And they have a player in Chris Cairns who will be wanting to bow out in style on his final tour.

He has proved himself to be one of the top all-rounders in international cricket and he is perhaps the one flair player that New Zealand have.

Chris will always go for his shots, and is a very attacking bowler, and he is the stand out player in a what really has to be regarded as a TEAM.

But being a team is what makes the Kiwis so strong.

Every man knows his capabilities, they know each other's capabilities and because of that they just get on with doing the job and other sides can suddenly find that the Black Caps are on top of a game without any one player standing out.