Barely a week after Chaminda Vaas retired from Test cricket, world’s highest wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan stunned cricket lovers by setting November 2010 as the date for his retirement from Test cricket.

Muralitharan was named Man of the Match for his all-round performance in yesterday’s first One-Day International against Pakistan here in Dambulla and announced his plans to retire from Tests. He will also retire from One-Day Internationals after the 2011 World Cup, but said would continue to play T-20 cricket for a few more years.

"Next year’s Test series against the West Indies is going to be my last. But I would like to play One-Day cricket till the next World Cup and want to continue playing T-20 cricket for a few more years," Muralitharan said.

That means, Muralitharan will be left with roughly six more Tests and the predictions of him taking 1000 wickets in Tests won’t be a reality. "I am not going to play for a long time and we have to play Test matches regularly if I am to get 1000 Test wickets, but we end up playing less Test Matches," he said.

He also indicated the knee injury he suffered ahead of the Test series had played a major role in his decision to retire. "I knew my knee is not right. Doctors said that I have to go through it and train harder. I can’t go for an operation as I will be out for six to seven months if I go through an operation. That means my career is almost over. I thought of putting up with it and train hard and go on."

Muralitharan has claimed 770 Test wickets in 127 Tests and 507 wickets in ODIs.