Ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan says that his decision to retire was based on giving younger spinners in Sri Lanka an opportunity and that he has had enough of international cricket.

Since making his Test debut in 1992, Muralitharan has featured in 123 Test Matches and 332 One-Day Internationals, becoming the highest wicket taker in both forms of the game.

Muralitharan announced that next year’s Test series against West Indies at home will be his last, but he will continue to play One-Day Internationals and T-20s.

"The youngsters have come through. There’s Ajantha Mendis, who is young and doing well. If you take Herath he’s 30 and he can play for another five or six years, but if I keep on playing he won’t get much of a chance," Muralitharan said.

Some local cricket enthusiasts thought that Murali would go onto to claim 1000 wickets in Test cricket and although the bowler was excited by the Prospect, some years back, he now thinks it’s next to impossible.

"I have had enough. I have played international cricket for the last 18 years. The only thing left for me is probably taking 1000 wickets, but it takes lot of years. We generally play seven or eight Tests a year and if I am to take another 200 Test wickets, it will take about another 30 Test Matches and that could be another five years. That’s not realistic and better to go on a high note," Muralitharan added.

Muralitharan was also asked about his World Record for most number of maidens in Tests. His 27th over of the New Zealand innings to Jacob Oram turned out to be a maiden and with that he overtook Warne’s record of 1761 maidens in Tests.