Surgeon plays down Murali injury fear

Reacting to a story about the possibility of Muttiah Muralitharan missing cricket for eight to ten weeks, the Australian surgeon who treated Muralitharan's shoulder downplayed the injury, saying it wasn't as bad as the MRI suggested.

David Young put Muralitharan through an arthroscopy following a scan that revealed a tendon tear, and was pleased with what he found. AAP quoted Young as saying, "I'm rapt. I'm very, very reassured by the scope compared to what the MRI had suggested. It was a quick scope, little more than diagnostic. It's a partial tear, he doesn't need it repaired and he will head home on Friday.

More reassuringly for fans who missed Muralitharan for much of last year, he added that Muralitharan had a chance of participating in the tour of New Zealand.