Muralitharan may retire in 2007

Sri Lanka [ Images ] spinner Muttiah Muralitharan [ Images ] hinted he may retire next year, Australia's [ Images ] Herald-Sun newspaper reported on Friday.

The newspaper quoted the 33-year-old Muralitharan saying the impending birth of his first child and the wear and tear of 14 years of international cricket had caused him to re-think his future.

Muralitharan, currently in Australia for the triangular one-day series with Ricky Ponting's [ Images ] world champions and South Africa [ Images ], said he would play through at least until the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies [ Images ] then make a decision.

"I will play until 2007, then keep an open mind about whether to play or not," he said.

"I have got married. In another 10 days time, I will get a baby boy. I am looking forward to that. I have enjoyed my cricket for 15, 16 years. Now I have my family life."

Muralitharan broke Courtney Walsh's [ Images ] world record for the most Test wickets in 2004 but has since been overtaken by Shane Warne [ Images ] after being sidelined for most of last year.

Muralitharan has 584 Test wickets to Warne's 659 but is three years younger than the Australian and takes his wickets at a faster rate. However, Muralitharan said regaining the record meant nothing to him.

"I had the record. I had my moments," he said. "Fifteen, 20 years time, somebody will come along and take 1000 wickets. Records are nothing."