New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Sri Lanka's spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan will retire after the first cricket Test against India beginning July 18 at Galle.

Muralitharan, 38, is the leading wicket taker in Test history with 792 victims from 132 matches.

"World's leading wicket-taker and champion spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has decided to retire from Test cricket after the first Test in Galle versus India commencing July 18," Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said on its website Tuesday. 

"Muralitharan has had discussions with the national Selectors, SLC officials and has had the blessings of the president Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Sports Minister C.B. Ratnayake. 

"Sri Lanka Cricket will hold an official press conference to announce his retirement in due course." 

Muralitharan is also the top wicket taker in One-Day Internationals with 515 wickets in 337 matches.

He was to retire from Tests in November but his decision to exit the Test early has been taken to extend his ODI career keeping in mind the 2011 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

It is understood that SLC wants Muralitharan to be around till the World Cup.

A prolific wicket-taker, Kandy-born Muralitharan overwhelmed West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh's world record of 519 Test wickets in May 2004. He was briefly overhauled by his fierce competitor Shane Warne but returned to head the list in December 2007. 

However, his illustrious career was not without controversies. 

He was called for throwing during the 1995-96 Australia tour, first in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne by Darrell Hair and later in the One-day series that followed. 

He was cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) only to be called for throwing once again in Australia by Ross Emerson on the 1998-99 tour. 

He was again pointed for chucking in March 2004 when he was reported by match referee Chris Broad following a three-match series against Australia but nothing wrong was found in his action.