Muralitharan wants more

Muttiah Muralitharan insists he is keen to remain involved in the game © Getty Images

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Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan intends to continue playing at the highest level for at least two more years.

The 35-year-old, who last month picked up a runners-up medal in the World Cup final, has been an international cricketer for almost 15 years but has no intention of retiring yet.

"It has been a very long time and I will have to call it a day some time,” he said.

“But I am hoping to play for at least another two years and see how good it is and how my fitness is.

"Maybe I will decide then. But for the moment at least another two years for sure - and definitely in both Tests and one-day internationals. I need to be involved in the game to be fully motivated and interested."

Russel Arnold hung up his pads after the World Cup and another of Muralitharan's international team-mates, Sanath Jayasuriya, turns 38 next month.

But Murali believes there is no reason why the star opener, or their 33-year-old colleague Chaminda Vaas, cannot continue for some time yet.

Sanath Jayasuriya should also continue playing, according to Muralitharan © Getty Images

He said: "Sanath is very fit and, although he is nearly 38, he can play in any ODI side. He can play as long as he is fit.

"Sanath looks after himself so well. And Vaasy is just 33. [Courtney] Walsh played until he was 37 or 38, [Curtly] Ambrose too played well into his late 30s and [Glenn] McGrath was 37 when he retired.

"I don't think Vaas should be looking to retire. He should maintain his fitness and continue and should be looking at the next World Cup too.

"As for Arnold, maybe he thought it was time. He was somebody who was in and out of the side and it is only he who knows what the best time is to quit. I think he has realised it is now."

Muralitharan reckons his side were unfortunate to lose the World Cup final by 53 runs to Australia on the Duckworth-Lewis method, but has saluted the magnificent match-winning innings produced by Adam Gilchrist, who hit 149 off 101 balls.

"We didn't have luck," added Muralitharan, who has signed as an overseas player for Lancashire this season.

"As you know, one needs luck to win a World Cup. We didn't have any that day.

"However, I must give all credit to Adam Gilchrist for the way he played. It was an absolutely brilliant innings. I have never seen an innings like that before as it had all the ingredients.

"His dominance was fantastic. To score 280 in 38 overs was far too much and it was never going to be easy to chase that."