Murali links abuses to rivalry with Warne

Muttiah Muralitharan has lashed out at the Australian crowds, citing his rivalry with Shane Warne as a motive for the constant barrage of abuses he has been subjected to in the ongoing VB Series. Warne has 659 Test and 293 ODI wickets while Muralitharan has 584 Test and 406 ODI wickets respectively.

In an interview to the Sydney Morning Herald, Muralitharan said, "The crowds and the journalists in Australia are the worst in the world. Definitely, I think something is happening behind [the scenes]. Maybe [Australians] think I will take the record and they want Warney on top. I think they are jealous of me. Warney is a great bowler and if he gets the record, that's OK. But if I am good enough I will get it.

"I shouldn't be playing here. All my deliveries are legal and nobody can question that. People should think about that before they say anything. All the attention only comes my way and is never on anyone else. I am clear, so why not check everyone now? Why not check the fast bowlers?"

Muralitharan recently underwent a series of tests at the University of Western Australia to convince the crowds of the legitimacy of his bowling action. "I will have to think about returning to Australia. I will see how the crowd react after Tuesday's game [at Hobart when Sri Lanka take on South Africa]. What they did to me in Perth was very bad. I have to consider it. If they don't like who I am and the way I bowl, why should I come and provide pleasure for the people by playing," he said.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to tour Australia for a Test series in 2007-08.