Whatmore plays down GOAT spinner talk

Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Sports Reporter

One of the most debatable topics in cricket is who is the greatest of all time (GOAT) spinner? The two names which invariably pop up in everyone mind are - Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan.

Both the legends have left their indelible impression on the game with their wicket taking abilities and match-winning performances. One has the distinction of bowling the best ball of the century, other boasts of having picked up most wickets in Test cricket.

Both are legend in their own rights and the debate to pick one of them as better than the other lingers on.

There have been many other great spinners like Anil Kumble of India, Saqlain Mushtaq of Pakistan, Jim Laker of England, who took 19 wickets in one Test and got great Australian batsman Donald Bradman out for a duck in the latter's last innings.

However, the debate for GOAT always zeros down to Warne and Muralitharan. Both have placed themselves in a unique position, where no other spinner has ever been.

Former Australian cricketer and decorated cricket coach Dav Whatmore is one person who has the  privilege to have shared the dressing room with both the legends.

He played with Warne as a team-mate and was the coach of Sri Lankan cricket team when Muralitharan was at his peak.

Whatmore transformed Lanka, who were considered as  underdogs, from a bunch of cricketers to the World Champions. Under his guidance, the tiny Island nation won their first and only 50-over World Cup.

When asked whom does he consider as the GOAT spinner, the renowned coach looked as confused as any layman would. He dismissed the notion of GOAT spinner, saying both are at par.

"It is one of the most  difficult questions to answer. Both of them are great. If Murali has taken more 800 wickets, Warne also has more than 700 dismissals to his credit. Both of them played in different conditions.

"It is a privilege for me  that I have shared dressing room with both of them. When I was at the fag end of my career Warne came into Australian team while I have been Murali coach for a long time when he was on his peak," said Whatmore, who has also been the coach of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Murali is the only bowler in the 800-club. He played most of his matches on the Asian pitches which are renowned for helping spinners while Warne plied his trade on Australian and England pitches, which assist pacers.

"I think this debate will end as everyone has his own pick. So, |I also don't think, I should give my verdict on the behalf of the whole fraternity," added Whatmore, who was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of Elite Corporate Cricket Bash (ECCB) in Dubai.

Petromann Sports Management (PSM), in collaboration with the Sharjah Cricket Council and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), announced the launch of the ECCB, a groundbreaking domestic cricket league designed to bring international-level cricket to the domestic scene in the UAE.

With a unique 100-ball format and top-tier organisational support, ECCB aims to elevate the profile of UAE cricket by providing a professional platform for top domestic players in the country to showcase their talent.

The tournament was launched on Sunday in Dubai at the hands of Mazhar Khan, General Manager, Sharjah Cricket, former Australia player and World Cup winning coach Dav Whatmore, along with Andrew Russell, Development Manager, Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

The ECCB has been conceived as a premier cricket tournament that will see the participation of 12 teams owned by corporate houses competing in 36 matches over 10 days at the iconic Sharjah International Stadium, featuring some of the best players from UAE.

This innovative league offers a total prize pool of Dhs.1.3 million, with high stakes for corporate players and an opportunity for emerging talent to shine on the national stage. The tournament is anticipated to reach a viewership of over 300 million across various platforms.