Muralitharan out of NatWest Series

Muttiah Muralitharan has pulled out of the Sri Lankan squad that will take part in the forthcoming NatWest Series of one-day internationals against England and India starting on June 27th at Trent Bridge.

The off-spinner has been suffering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the first Test at Lord's and he was not fully fit for the matches that followed at Edgbaston and Old Trafford. Nevertheless, he bowled 64 overs in Birmingham and took five wickets, while he delivered another 62 overs in Manchester and took another three wickets. Despite his considerable efforts, Sri Lanka lost both matches.

Now the Sri Lankan tour management are worried about the effect on his future fitness if he continues to play while carrying the injury and have decided that he should return home to prepare for the forthcoming series against Bangladesh. A replacement player has been requested.

Chandra Schaffter, the tour manager, said: "The team management have decided to send Murali back to Sri Lanka. We did not feel he was fit enough to risk playing in a one-day tournament."

Physiotherapist Alex Kontouri added: "There's no problem with him batting or bowling, but there would be a risk with him diving in the field."

Better news for the Sri Lankans is that Marvan Atapattu's injured finger is making enough progress for him to be able to play against Gloucestershire in Bristol on Sunday, while pace bowler Nuwan Zoysa's groin is not yet one hundred per cent but he should be fit enough to play in that game as well having come through a test against West Indies A at Hove on Wednesday.