Muttiah Muralitharan

A world-class off-spinner who is continually vying with Shane Warne to be the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket after both passed Courtney Walsh’s previous record of 519.

First joined Lancashire for a stint in 1999 when he was named as the county’s Player of the Year and returned in 2001 before a spell with Kent in 2003.

Lancashire signed Muralitharan for the 2005 season despite him being sidelined at the time after undergoing an operation to cure a troublesome shoulder injury.

He played six first class games for the county and immediately proved his worth as he took 36 wickets at an average of 15 as he helped Lancashire to the Division Two title.

He was re-signed for the 2007 season, and joined the county after Sri Lanka's World Cup campaign.

In 2001, he became the quickest bowler from any county to achieve 100 Championship wickets, after playing just 12 matches.

His career has been plagued by controversy over his bowling action but his career statistics speak for themselves, while his lower-order batting has also been the source of much enjoyment by Sri Lankan fans over the years.