Shane Warne said “I don’t think anyone will get there, so well done to Murali for getting his 800,” Warne told Sky Sports.

“The way he’s gone about it has been amazing. There’s been a lot of controversy about his action but at the end of the day the ICC (International Cricket Council) cleared him, he’s allowed to play, and what he did with the ball was amazing.

“To face it was quite difficult, especially in those spinning conditions in Sri Lanka.”

Graeme Swann on the other hand disagreed with the King Of Spin commenting “”I think it will be beaten at some stage. A lot of people are a long way off that.”

“There’s always going to be detractors to anybody. The best thing is he rose above it and just carried on doing what he does and his record now speaks for itself.

“He changed the shape of spin bowling. He is unique in what he’s done.”

Former Indian great Anil Kumble left nothing to the imagination fully supporting his competitor

“It is really amazing that someone like Murali has been able to achieve that. I think it will remain unparalleled.

“I am not sure if anyone will be able to achieve 800 Test wickets in as many Test matches that I have played. He took 200 more wickets than what I ended up with.

“It is a great achievement, and I have sent my congratulatory messages to Murali for the same.”

As you would expect Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, took time out to congratulate the spinner “Sri Lanka is proud of this son of our soil, who has reached the greatest height as a bowler with his new record, winning the highest respect of his contemporaries in the game the world over.”

There we have it, just a few comments in the hundreds that he has surely received. A fitting end to a brilliant career.

Magical Murali has done it! The accomplished spinner finally reached his target 800 wickets with the final wicket of the first Test match against India in Galle.

Murali’s 800^th victim was tail-ender Pragyan Ojha who was caught by Mahela Jayawardene at slip. Celebrations ensued and a magnificent and controversial Test career came to a dramatic close.

When the first Test began five days ago, the off-spinner required eight wickets over two innings to further cement his place in cricketing folklore. Precariously poised on 792 wickets, a good showing in the first innings was a necessity.

Sachin Tendulkar had no answer to his guile on Tuesday and was one of five victims and he went on take 5-63 as India had to follow on.

Murali, now 38, began his career in 1992 and little did we know then that the mystical spinner would have surpassed Shane Warne’s 708 wickets but he would go on to reach 800 in 133 Tests.

With his five wicket haul in the first, it left him with just three wickets to re write history.

He removed Yuvraj Singh with the last ball of the fourth day, and trapped fellow off-spinner Harbhajan Singh lbw early on day five. Wicket after wicket fell and Murali could see his chance evaporating. Malinga was on fire and he ended the innings with a wonderful five wicket haul.

With a supreme effort from Malinga at the other end time wasn’t a problem, the lack of wickets however were! With his 157^th Test catch, Jayawardene moved to his left and claimed Ojha’s wicket. Murali and his team mates celebrated, it heralded the end of an 18 year Test career.

Highlights

Test Matches: 800 wickets in 133 matches.

One Day Internationals: 515 wickets in 337 matches.

Twenty20 internationals: 13 wickets.