John Howard now gives Murali a pat on the back

There's good news for Muttiah Muralitharan. The man who once called him a "chucker", John Howard then Australian Prime Minister in 2004, has patted him on the back calling him "a very good bowler" on the day Sri Lanka Cricket announced the off-spinner's intentions to retire from Test cricket after the first Test against India on July 18 in Galle. "I believe that Muralitharan is a very good bowler," Howard told this writer.

When asked in May 2004, if the Sri Lankan chucked the ball, Howard had replied: "Yes. They proved it in Perth (at the University of Western Australia) too." Muralitharan, was angered by these comments and had refused to tour Australia thereafter but changed his mind later.

However, when approached for his recent observation, Howard added: "I think he (Muralitharan) is a wonderful bowler and is to be congratulated for becoming the world's highest wicket taker (792 in Tests and 515 in ODIs)."

The writer is a freelancer