Brendon McCullum says sorry to Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralitharan

Incident happened in December 2006

 

 

London: Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has apologised to the former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara and spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan for a controversial run out incident happened way back in December 2006.

McCullum apologised while delivering the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture on Monday.

“Nearly ten years after running out Murali, I view things very differently and I would hope that I am a very different person. 

“Kumar Sangakkara is here tonight. Sanga, I admire you enormously. I regard you as a friend. And I take this opportunity to apologize to you and Murali for my actions on that day. 

“I want to share with you the things that I think were the primary catalysts for my change of approach. And I think it’s fair to say that they came late in my career.”

The said incident happened 10 years ago during the second innings of the first Test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Christchurch, where McCullum had controversially run out Muralitharan. 

Played at the Jade Stadium, Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first, but things did not turn out well for them as the visitors were bowled out for 154 runs with Shane Bond and James Franklin picking up 3 wickets each. 

Sri Lankan bowlers responded back well with Muralitharan leading the attack and picking up 4 wickets. Chaminda Vaas supported from the other end and took 3 wickets. But New Zealand managed to secure a crucial lead of 52 runs.

In the second innings, Sri Lankan batting line-up again folded up for just 170 runs despite Sangakkara’s fighting century. Sri Lanka were nine down on 169 and Sangakkara was batting on 99. He had worked the ball towards deep fine leg for an easy single to complete his century. After completing the single, Murali had walked out of his crease to congratulate Sangakkara for his century without waiting for the ball to go dead. McCullum, who had collected the ball from the fine-leg fielder, shattered the stumps at the striker’s end and umpire judged Murali out.

New Zealand eventually won the match by chasing down 119 runs by the loss of 5 wickets.

Here is the video of the incident: