Sri Lanka buoyed by news that Muralitharan doesn't need surgery

Muttiah Muralitharan will not have to undergo surgery on his injured shoulder and could still participate in Sri Lanka's forthcoming three-match Test series in England.

Muralitharan, who tore ligaments above his left shoulder joint whilst fielding in the Sharjah Cup 2002 final, would have faced a three-month layoff had he required surgery, but this has been ruled out by Australian orthopedic surgeon David Young after an examination on Sunday morning.

However, Sri Lanka's precious off-spinner will be required to keep his arm in a special sling for four weeks and then need to have two weeks rehabilitation to regain full movement before making a return to the fold.

With the first Test at Lords scheduled for May 16 and the second at Edgbaston two weeks later on May 30, the team management are confident that he will make a comeback in the third Test at Old Trafford on June 13. There is also an outside chance that he could play at Edgbaston.

Muralitharan will now remain in Melbourne for two weeks with Young - the surgeon who operated on a similar injury to his bowling shoulder in 1999 and inserted a plate into Sanath Jayasuriya's hand - so that his progress can be closely monitored.

He is then expected to travel to England, at least in time for the Lord's Test, when Sri Lanka's physio Alex Kontouri will take charge of his rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's fastest bowler Dilhara Fernando, presently resting after a long term back problem, is expected to leave for England two weeks after the rest of the squad, who arrive in London early Sunday morning.

Kontouri, speaking before the team's departure to London, remained optimistic of Fernando playing in the series, pointing out that he has been rested for six weeks for precautionary reasons and that he could play in the second Test.

Earlier in the week the Sri Lankan selectors had included three more players in the squad, which has now ballooned to 18, as cover for both Muralitharan and Fernando.