Murali surgery successful

Muttiah Muralitharan's shoulder operation has gone well and he should be fit in time to play in Sri Lanka's Test series against New Zealand in December. He is recovering in the Melbourne hospital where he had the surgery on his injured right shoulder today (August 16). David Young, a shoulder specialist who has treated Murali before, performed the operation and announced that it had been a success. "He is feeling fine," said Young. "He should be back bowling competitively by the end of the year."

Muralitharan flew to Australia on Thursday last week to see Young, and was told that unless he had surgery, a cyst in his shoulder could permanently weaken his bowling arm. "We've advised him to have the surgery. Otherwise, if it gets worse, it could threaten his career," said Young at the time. The surgery treated a superior labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) lesion, which in layman's terms is a type of cyst which caused a build-up of fluid around the nerves in Muralitharan's right shoulder. The problem developed because of the huge amount he has bowled during his career: his workload has included more than 5000 overs in Tests alone.

Murali had complained of pain in his shoulder for several months before the op, and bowled with discomfort in the drawn first Test against South Africa earlier this month, although he still picked up five wickets to edge ahead of Shane Warne in their scrap for the Test bowling record. However, with Murali, who has 532 Test wickets to his name, unlikely to play again before a series against New Zealand in December this year, Warne has a chance to reclaim the record, and build a lead. Australia play four Tests against India in October, followed by two against New Zealand and three against Pakistan at home.

Muralitharan had remained philosophical about his injury setback, telling reporters in Melbourne on Saturday: "Nothing is certain in life. I think other people have to have a share. Shane Warne is a wonderful bowler and he should also have the record." Warne, who had similar surgery in 2000, drew level with Muralitharan when Australia played Sri Lanka last month, but has never held the record outright.