Muttiah Muralitharan’s relationship with Australia became so bitter that he threatened to never tour the country again.
Now at 42, Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker is taking on spin-coaching roles including a 15-day stint with the Australia team during their tour of the United Arab Emirates for the one-day and Test series against Pakistan.
“Life is all about moving forward,” Muralitharan said on Wednesday in Sharjah.
“Not thinking about backwards and say ‘he has done me (wrong) so I’m going to be harsh to him’.
“So forget and forgive and go away. That’s the way it is.
“My life, what happened is I was suspected so I had to prove myself.
“I’m innocent. I have proved myself for all of 20 years.
“So they accept it.
“Bad things happen. That means you can’t be keeping vengeance in your heart and just keep on going like that.
“So forget and forgive and go on.”
Called for chucking on Australian tours in 1995 and 1998, Muralitharan was constantly taunted by Australia’s crowds and even singled out by then-Prime Minister John Howard.
But the ever-smiling spin wizard has made peace with Australia, including a playing stint with Melbourne Renegades in the T20 Big Bash League.
He won’t be back this summer though, as spreading the gospel of spin is his calling.
“I told the Big Bash League I’m not coming and also the Indian Premier League, I’ve advised them I’m not going to be available,” he said.
“My future plans are just to help spinners all around the world. That’s the role I’m going to play.
“I’ve taken this assignment for about 15 days.
“My duties is to do whatever I can to help the bowlers plus the batsmen on how to play spin.
“So whatever I know, I’m going to tell them.”
Murali has worked with Australia’s No.1 spinner Nathan Lyon ahead of the two-Test series against Pakistan starting on October 22 in Dubai.
“How fast you bowl, the types of different deliveries you try to bowl, those are the things we talked about,” Murali said.
Lyon and fellow offspinner Glenn Maxwell claimed two wickets each in Australia’s 93-run win in Tuesday’s one-day game against Pakistan.
Australia’s batsman and part-time leggie Steve Smith praised Muralitharan.
“Murali’s been great for me. He’s come in and done a great job for us and got me going through the crease a bit more,” Smith said.
