Muralitharan box

Factbox on Muttiah Muralitharan after the Sri Lanka off-spinner took his 300th one-day wicket on Monday:

Born: April 17, 1972. The world's leading bowler in Test history according to cricket bible Wisden as well as the most controversial due to his unique action.

ODI debut: Aug 1993 v India, Colombo. ODIs: 202.

Test debut: Aug 92 v Australia, Colombo, 437 wkts at 23.52. 78 matches.

Third in the all-time Test wicket-taking list, behind Courtney Walsh and Shane Warne and fourth in the all-time one-day list, only two wickets behind India's Anil Kumble on 302.

Named by Wisden as greatest Test bowler of all time (and 7th in the one-day list). Prodigious turner of the ball, combining finger spin and wrist rotation as well as unbridled aggression.

Began playing as a medium pacer. Dad ran a sweet business in Kandy. Loves rugby.

Called for throwing (straightening arm during delivery) during tours to Australia in 1995-96 and 1998-99. Action cleared by ICC, cricket's world governing body.

1998, took match figures of 16 for 220 against England, the 5th best in history.

Oct 2000, took his ODI best of 7-30 v India in Champions Trophy. Claimed 75 Test wickets at 19.51 in the calendar year, a record for a spin bowler.

Aug 2001, took 8-87 against India in the 3rd Test, including a ball compared with Shane Warne's 'Ball of the Century' -- pitched outside leg stump and caught the off to dismiss opener Sadagopan Ramesh.

Sept, said he would love to take 500 wickets in his career. By Nov, began talking about 600. Took 80 wkts in 12 Tests in 2001, a new record.

January 2002, took Test-best 9-51 against Zimbabwe in Kandy, 5th best innings return of all time and almost became the third man after England's Jim Laker and India's Anil Kumble to take all 10. Teammate Chaminda Vaas, trying to help him by bowling slow and wide, accidentally got the last wicket.

Becomes youngest and quickest to take 400 Test wickets in 3rd Test v Zimbabwe, taking 30 wickets at 9.8.

Controversy over action flares again in Feb when Bishen Bedi, interviewed by Wisden, likened him to a "javelin thrower".

Complained during tour of England in June of lack of support from rest of Sri Lanka's bowlers. "There is so much pressure on me because I have to take all the wickets. I can't bowl a miracle spell every time."

Has taken 10 wickets in a match for a world record 11 times.

Nov, undergoes hernia operation, making comeback in one-day match against Australia in Jan 2003.

Dec, named by cricket bible Wisden as the best bowler in Test history.

Jan 2003, returns to Sri Lanka team for triangular one-day series tournament against England and Australia in Australia after missing the first three matches because of injury.

Takes 2-44 in his comeback match in Sydney against Australia on January 9 as the tourists win their first game of the series, by 79 runs.

In the next match, against England in Sydney four days later, Muralitharan dismisses England's Jimmy Anderson to become the fourth player to reach 300 wickets in one-day internationals.