Factbox on Sri Lanka [ Images ] off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan [ Images ], who broke the world record for most wickets in one-day internationals on Thursday.

* Aged 36, born Apr. 17 1972, in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Made his Test debut in 1992 v Australia [ Images ] in Colombo. Has been the linchpin of Sri Lankan bowling, including the upset one-day World Cup triumph in 1996.

* Holds the world record for most Test wickets, 769 from 125 tests.

* Was called for throwing by Australian umpire Darrell Hair in 1995, triggering a continuing debate about the legality of his unusual action. Was called again on a 1998-99 tour of Australia but was cleared of any wrongdoing after scientific tests proved his action was legal.

* Broke West Indian Courtney Walsh's [ Images ] world record of 519 Test wickets in 2004 before injuries forced him to take an extended break from the game. Lost his world record to Shane Warne [ Images ] later that year but reclaimed it in 2007 after the Australian leg-spinner retired with 708 Test wickets.

* Muralitharan also holds the world record for most 10-wicket hauls in a Test match (22) and five-wicket hauls in an innings (66).

* Had Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh [ Images ] caught to equal retired Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram's [ Images ] one-day world record of 502 wickets in the third game of the home series.

* Bettered Akram's record of 502 wickets when he had Gautam Gambhir [ Images ] caught by Kumar Sangakkara [ Images ] for 150 in the fourth ODI of the series.