Murali 'hungry for wickets' on turning track

After a none-too-impressive performance in the one-dayers, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka's legendary spinner, is keen to prove himself in the Test series against India beginning at Chennai on December 2.

"It is a big challenge for me and I have to prove myself against a formidable side like India," Muralitharan, who has 563 wickets from 95 Tests at an average of 22.15, said. Muralitharan said he was raring to have a go at the MA Chidambaram ground although he had never played at this venue. "I have never played here before but the bowlers, especially the spinners on either side, will have an impact on the outcome of the match," he told reporters after the team's net practice which lasted for nearly three hours.

Muralitharan refused to term the series as a clash between him and Sachin Tendulkar. "Not only Sachin, India is a strong side having in its ranks players like Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly and [VVS] Laxman. We will strive hard to get their wickets." Asked to comment on the nature of the pitch, he said "it looks like a flat one. It would take spin on the second or third day itself and will provide bounce as well."

Muralitharan did not want to go into the 1-6 debacle his team suffered in the recent one-day series saying it was a thing of the past. "We have to make things happen, it depends on how we bowl on the day." Terming Test matches as the "real thing", he said he was pleased to be playing a Test match in India after eight years. "I have always aimed to take wickets to help my country win matches. I am hungry for wickets."