Muralitharan aims big

Muttiah Muralitharan says World Cup success would top his own records © Getty Images

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Muttiah Muralitharan is hoping to cap his hugely distinguished career with what would be his "biggest moment" if Sri Lanka beat favourites Australia in the World Cup final.

The master off-spinner was in his formative years as an international cricketer when he was part of the Sri Lanka side which forced the world to take notice by recording a shock first World Cup win in 1996.

Three tournaments later - and with more than 1,000 international wickets to his name - 35-year-old Muralitharan is eyeing a second piece of silverware.

To get his hands on that, he and his team-mates must upset the odds at Bridgetown's Kensington Oval on Saturday, where Australia will be out to lift the trophy for the third time running.

"This will be the biggest moment in my life," said Muralitharan, who has learned with maturity how important a second world-beating success would be to his country.

"I had moments in 1996, but I was very young and I didn't know much about it. Now I know about what it takes to win a World Cup."

He is not discounting another World Cup campaign - when the tournament returns to the sub-continent in 2011 - but recognises opportunity is knocking with some urgency this weekend.

Murali did not fully appreciate Sri Lanka's triumph in 1996

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"This may be my last World Cup, so if we can win it will be the greatest moment in my life rather than my individual records," he insisted.

Muralitharan and young fast bowler Lasith Malinga are two of the most potent weapons in the Sri Lanka side, yet Muralitharan himself sees their batsmen as equally capable of helping to win any match.

"We have batsmen of the calibre of (Sanath) Jayasuriya, (Mahela) Jayawardene, (Kumar) Sangakkara, and (Upul) Tharanga," he pointed out, recalling the way those players outclassed England in last summer's 5-0 NatWest Series triumph.

"If they click, the way we played in England, we had total domination - and I only played in two matches," he said.

"If our batsmen get set we will be more dangerous than any other team in the world, because we can play more shots than any other players."

Sri Lanka's notable campaign in the Caribbean has been overseen by captain Jayawardene, in partnership with coach Tom Moody - himself twice a World Cup winner with his native Australia.

Jayawardene has credited Moody with helping to fine-tune his talents - and it seems the respect is mutual, judging by the coach's comparisons between the leadership of the current captain and that of Arjuna Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to the trophy 11 years ago.

"Arjuna is an admired leader - a different style leader to Mahela," he said. "Mahela is his own man but the game itself has changed in Sri Lanka compared to when they won the World Cup.

Mahela Jayawardene has impressed greatly as captain

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"Then it required an extremely strong character like Arjuna to lead a group of players that needed leading. This group of players has more than one leader."

Jayawardene's approachable style therefore fits the bill for the modern Sri Lanka.

"Mahela is hugely respected as a leader," Moody added. "He is an astute thinker and a player who is happy to lead with the willow in his hand as well.

"Mahela as a general player and captain has relished the role of responsibility, and his hundred [against New Zealand in Tuesday's semi-final win] typified someone who has drawn on all his experience and taken the responsibility. He made one of this World Cup's finest hundreds.

"He had a pretty smart record before his captaincy. But the captaincy has helped him recognise key moments in matches because he is looking beyond his own game at the team's situation, and he is aware of taking that position of responsibility."

Sri Lanka chairman of selectors Ashantha de Mel has revealed that fast bowler Dilhara Fernando has been dropped for the final.

Fernando went for 45 off five overs against the Kiwis and failed to add to the four wickets he has taken in the tournament.

"Dilhara Fernando, who has taken only four wickets in six games, and who played poorly against New Zealand, will be left out of the team for the final," said De Mel.

“Farveez Maharoof, who has taken nine wickets in the tournament, will be in the team."