Warne could be back on Thursday

MELBOURNE, Jan 20 AAP - Australia could regain leg-spinner Shane Warne for Thursday's first one-day cricket final against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Warne reported he pulled up well from bowling for Victoria in yesterday's match against Tasmania.

National team physiotherapist Errol Alcott will examine Warne's right bowling shoulder tomorrow.

Alcott said provided there were no unexpected problems, he could clear Warne for national selection.

"I've seen Shane today and he says his shoulder is excellent, he says he `fizzed' a couple (of deliveries) yesterday and he's very happy," Alcott said.

"I will `put him on the hoist' tomorrow and examine him....he could be available as early as this week.

"It (Warne's rehabilitation) has gone as well as anticipated - I'm just happy he's come along."

Warne dislocated the shoulder on December 15 in a fielding accident during a one-dayer against England at the MCG.

He had exploratory surgery the following day, which revealed no secondary damage to the joint, and Warne made his cricket comeback 10 days ago in a one-dayer pitting his team Victoria against Western Australia at the same ground.

His return, providing there are no setbacks, will be a massive boost to Australia's World Cup chances.

Alcott added Jason Gillespie, out with an elbow injury, had been "pencilled in" to play for South Australia in its January 26 one-dayer against Tasmania.

Gillespie continued his rehabilitation here today with the national team, which will play Sri Lanka at the MCG tomorrow night in the last of the preliminary matches of the tri series.

Alcott will also reassess paceman Glenn McGrath (back) on Wednesday when the Australians go to Sydney to prepare for the best-of-three finals against England.

But fellow paceman Andy Bichel is in doubt for tomorrow's dead rubber with a shoulder injury.

The weekend's results in Adelaide ensured England would play Australia in the finals regardless of tomorrow's result.

Australia denied deliberately batting slowly in yesterday's win over England to ensure it would not play Sri Lanka in the finals.

Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya said he could not criticise Australia after his team lost to England on Friday night.

"If we won the other night, it's a different story," Jayasuriya said.

"We lost the other night, we can't blame anybody."

A Sri Lankan team spokesman said a squad would be picked later tonight, but Muttiah Muralitharan (thigh) would not be available.

Australia will regain captain Ricky Ponting and opener Matthew Hayden, who were rested at the weekend.

AUSTRALIA (from): Ponting (capt), Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Nathan Bracken, Adam Gilchrist, Hayden, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Brad Williams.

SRI LANKA (from): Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Russel Arnold, Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Aravinda de Silva, Buddhika Fernando, Dilhara Fernando, Chamila Gamage, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Chaminda Vaas.