Melbourne: After a shrill war of words in which Muttiah Muralitharan called Shane Warne a "miserable man", the two spin wizards today patched up at the unveiling ceremony of the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, describing the entire episode a case of "miscommunication".

The controversy started after Warne, in his column for a newspaper, suggested that Muralitharan's action be tested in match conditions, which infuriated the Sri Lankan. Muralitharan hits back saying that the Australian leg-spinner was "a miserable man" and threatened to snub the Warne during the trophy unveiling ceremony.

"Maybe he just doesn't want me to pass his record. Why else would he keep saying these things? I will shake his hand (at the ceremony to unveil the trophy) and go straight off the field instead of trying to be friendly," he had said. However, the two laughed off the controversy at the function in Hobart today, saying that it was nothing more than a misunderstanding.

"There is no issue at all. I thought he said something about my bowling action and then I said he was a miserable man," Muralitharan was quoted as saying by The Melbourne Herald Sun. "We just talked to each other and patched it up. It was a miscommunication more than anything else," he added, seeking to put an end to the controversy.

Warne also clarified that he did not mean to target Muralitharan and his comment was a general suggestion, which should be considered to avoid controversies. "I spoke to Murali about it this morning so I am pretty happy actually, I am not that miserable. I've got absolutely no issue with Murali and his action or anything like that," he said.

Source : PTI