The matches were far and a few and a limited number of countries were playing then, when the great West Indian Lance Gibbs surpassed the elusive 300 wickets mark and went on to established a new world record.
I was thinking that this would be another record that no one would be able to break, like the giant leap of Bob Bimon in Mexico Olympics.
A few decades later I was proven wrong and reminded me harshly that the records are only meant to be broken.
What the Kandy-man did a few hours ago in Galle is monumental.
And with the craze for Test matches is waning in the world of cricket, as the other forms are taking the centre stage that I could not help wondering again whether this would be another unbreakable world record and also how long this record would stand if ever it is broken.
Even if it is broken some day, that Murali will be remembered not only as one of the finest cricketers that we have seen but also for him sportsmanship.
His name has never ever been embroiled and tainted with any scandalous accusations either on the field or off the field.
Once he was even gracious enough to donate his Man of the Match award to one of the young Bengali batsman for scoring a prolific century despite losing the match.
Losing a gentleman to the game of gentlemen will be an irreplaceable lose and as it says that all the good things must come to an end one day.
But I am glad that he did manage to achieve what he was aiming and wish him good luck in his future endeavors.
Kithsiri Sasanka De Silva blogging from Oman
