In the Indian Railways, when a staff member reaches the age of 60, he is provided with an alarm clock as a retirement present. In cricket, when a senior player approaches the end of his career, it has become fashionable to make him a leader.

Muttiah Muralitharan’s elevation to the vice-captaincy comes close on the heels of Anil Kumble’s brief stint as captain. These giant spinners were annointed as leaders at the end of their careers. Leadership was a final token of appreciation for their many years of toil.

Murali’s status as cricket’s greatest wicket-taker is just one of his credentials. He is simply an awesome cricketing mind. The 37 year-old is a master of field placement. In his first season for Lancashire, his captain John Crawley delegated field placement to his overseas star. Crawley said that he had never played with a finer tactician.

But, there are reasons to question Murali’s suitability for the post. He can be childish and outspoken. Patience with lesser mortals is not one of his virtues. His stints as captain of Tamil Union and Central Province have been mixed.

One would think that the Tamil Union administrators would welcome their prodigy’s elevation as Kumar Sangakkara’s deputy. But some of the club’s administrators have dire concerns about his leadership skills.

Kumble’s record as a captain was not great. Though he defeated Pakistan and drew with Australia, Kumble suffered an embarrassing loss to Sri Lanka. He struggled to reconcile the role of captain and leading bowler.

The old bias in cricket against bowling captains may be valid. Kumble could not detach himself from his failures with the ball. He shouted at his fielders and was confused by the referral system.

Murali, for his part, says that he never sought the post. Irrespective of his role, he cannot be denied a say in team decisions. For many years, he has had an invisible hand.

Like other great spinners such as Bedi and Warne, Murali is attacking. Sri Lanka’s Test captains have been insular and defensive leaders, except for Aravinda de Silva and Mahela Jayawardene. Sanga and Mahela are joined in the hip. Though he shares his friend’s instincts, Sanga may not excel as both wicket-keeper and captain.

It is hard to find a more combative man than Murali. But, captaincy has been the preserve of batsmen. In a sense, he is already the captain. The sheer number of overs he bowls means that he is constantly setting the field. Sanga’s ability to manage Murali will be the determinant of his reign.

Murali’s determination will be tested as his body approaches middle age. Nobody has bowled as much as he has in the game’s history.

While acres of newsprint have been devoted to praise the range of Murali’s variations, one must remember that in the early part of his career Murali was known as a spinner with less than a full bag of tricks. He was viewed as a bowler blessed with exceptional turn, but short of variety.

On the 1994 and 1997 tours to India, Muralitharan was a one-trick pony relying exclusively on his extravagant off-breaks. Wizened players of spin ravaged him.

Navjot Singh Sidhu, for instance, lifted him for eight sixes on the first day of the Lucknow test in 1994.

Today, Murali’s vast armoury includes a doosra, a top-spinner and a flipper. The doosra increases the likelihood of LBWs against both right-handers and left-handers.

This is a tribute to his oak-like determination. .

Murali has often complained about the reluctance of umpires to rule out batsmen who pretend to play a shot. In Delhi in 2005, he was angered when vociferous shouts against Sachin Tendulkar were turned out by Simon Taufel. A lesser man would have wilted. But, Murali eventually had his day.

Tendulkar and Murali will be adversaries today in the IPL opening match between the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians. But, as the Mumbai Indians may find out, Murali is not dispirited by reversals – or by vice-captaincy.