GALLE, Sri Lanka (Reuters)
Muttiah Muralitharan is poised to enter the history books as the youngest man to take 400 Test wickets when the third and final Test against Zimbabwe starts on Saturday.

The 29-year-old offspinner, who averages five and a half wickets per Test, needs only five more to join the select group of six who have captured more than 400 victims. He has already taken 21 wickets in the current series as the home side seek a second consecutive 3-0 whitewash at home after thrashing West Indies.

New Zealand's Richard Hadlee was the first and quickest bowler to reach the 400 mark, setting his record in his 80th Test. Muralitharan will be playing his 72nd.

Muralitharan injured a finger in the second Test, when he just missed becoming only the third bowler in Test history to take 10 wickets in an innings but he has been passed fit for Saturday's match.

"This is a historical game for Murali and we are all looking forward and waiting for him taking his 400th wicket," said captain Sanath Jayasuriya. "Murali is recovering fast from the injury. We still have to carefully manage him and may have to hide him a little on the field, but not as much as we did in the last game.

"The pitch looks a good one and it should start turning on the second and the third days. It looks like a similar pitch to the one in the West Indies game, but because of the heat it may start cracking."

Jayasuriya said a team meeting later on Friday would decide whether to play with two pace bowlers and two spinners or field three seamers plus Muralitharan. Nuwan Zoysa is nursing a groin strain but Jayasuriya said he had been bowling in the nets and should be available for selection. Another left-arm paceman Ruchira Perera has been drafted into the squad as cover.

"There is no guarantee in this game that I will get 400 wickets, but hopefully I can get there if I bowl well," Muralitharan said. "I have not been thinking about it too much. But it is definitely a landmark that I want to pass as I really want to take 500 Test wickets. Being just 29 I have plenty of time to take them."

Zimbabwe captain Stuart Carlisle paid tribute to Muralitharan. "Murali bowls very well in these conditions. It's a great challenge for us. It is important that we play him a lot better and make sure that we try and deny him getting any wickets at all," he said.

"I've also heard that this is one of the most turning pitches in Sri Lanka. It really looks like there is the odd big crack there. The guys know that this is an important Test and they are playing for places in India. So it is important for the individuals to really perform to try and get into the squad for India."

Zimbabwe have been reduced to just 12 players with Hamilton Masazadza and Tatendra Taibu having left for New Zealand to represent their country in the Under-19 World Cup tournament starting on January 14.

Teams (from)
Sri Lanka Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillekaratne, Thilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Charitha Buddika, Nuwan Zoysa, Upul Chandana, Ruchira Perera.

Zimbabwe Stuart Carlisle (capt), Trevor Gripper, Dion Ebrahim, Gavin Rennie, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Craig Wishart, Heath Streak, Travis Friend, Douglas Marillier, Gary Brent, Henry Olonga.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd