Murali's the best - Bell

Ian Bell
12 April 2012

England batsman Ian Bell has hailed Muttiah Muralitharan as "the best bowler I've ever faced" after the Sri Lankan spin star announced he is set to retire from Test cricket.

Bell confronted Murali during England's tour of Sri Lanka in 2007 and enjoyed a degree of success with three half-centuries in the series, but he was also dismissed four times in the series by the spinner.

Bell said: "To be honest Murali is the best bowler I've ever faced. He certainly made you work hard for your runs and there was always a challenge. But, as well, as a bloke he was always someone who had a smile on his face as well when you played against him."

He added: "He never really had a go at you properly but in a way he was trying to take the mickey out of you in a way because you couldn't pick him and stuff like that.

"In those conditions in Sri Lanka, it was hard work to score runs against someone of that quality. He is a fantastic cricketer.

"Murali and Shane Warne are both up there in terms of being world-class spinners.

"It is a shame the game is going to miss another world-class spinner.

"I am sure the England guys will all say he was one of the hardest bowlers to face."

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