Muttiah Muralitharan

Although he has polarised opinion in the game of cricket, it is fair to say that Muttiah Muralitharan is one of the greatest to have ever spun the ball (as per the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2002.) He retired in 2010 but left behind him many records and a fine legacy that will forever be talked about when it comes to bowling.

As such he is an in demand speaker who has much to talk about, including his most controversial of bowling actions which led to many investigations and even rules of cricket being re-written. In total, he amassed 800 wickets and holds the world record for the most wickets in both Test and One Day cricket.

He is a right arm off break bowler with an odd physiology which leads to the impression that he is slinging the ball, but was ruled after much debate to be bowling with a sufficiently straight arm action so as to be legal. Domestically he played for the likes of Kent, Tamil Union, Lancashire, Gloucestershire, Wellington Firebirds, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Jamaica Tallawahs, Melbourne Renegades and more besides. Muralitharan is also a great philanthropist who set up the Foundation of Goodness, a charity organisation, in the early 2000s, which is dedicated to the wellbeing of the Seenigama region. He has done much work in the wake of tsunamis in the region, helping to provide concrete for building work as well as raising 4 million dollars. Muttiah Muralitharan is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable faces in world cricket, meaning he is a revered guest speaker, role model and brand ambassador.