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Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara is embraced by team mate Mahela Jayawardena (right) after Sangakkara completed his century as England's Chris Jordan (left) looks on during the first Test match at Lord's cricket ground in London June 14, 2014. (REUTERS)
Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has apologised to Sri Lankan legends Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara for playing against the spirit of the game during a match in 2006 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Delivering the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Spirit of Cricket lecture at Lord's in London on Monday, McCullum expressed regret at running out Muralitharan when the tail-ender turned back to congratulate Sangakkara for completing a century with a single.
“I became incredibly competitive; winning was everything and I didn't really care what it took to win,” he said wishing he could back time since he was a different person now.
“Because 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 apologise to you and Murali for my actions on that day," he said explaining in detail the controversial incident.
He said: "Much as it pains me to talk about it publicly, I'll tell you how I ran out Muttiah Muralitharan.
“We were playing Sri Lanka at Lancaster Park in Christchurch in late 2006. Kumar Sangakkara scored a magnificent 100 in the second innings. When Kumar reached his 100, Sri Lanka were nine down - the ball was still in the air being returned to me as wicketkeeper when Murali left his ground to congratulate Kumar. When the ball arrived in my gloves, I removed the bails and appealed. Murali was given out and we went on to win the match.
“Not surprisingly, the incident created controversy and bad feelings. The Sri Lankans were stunned. Their captain Mahela Jayawardene said at the time: 'Legally it was run out, the ball was alive, but we play in an age where we talk about the spirit of the game. Hopefully it won't happen again. It's not the way to play cricket'.
“If I could turn back time, I would. We were within the laws of the game but not the spirit and there is a very important difference which is glaringly obvious to me years later."
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