Muralitharan to miss second England Test

Sri Lankan superstar bowler Muttiah Muralitharan, the world's most successful off-spinner, will likely miss the second Test against England on May 30 due to an injured left shoulder, cricket officials said on Tuesday.

Muralitharan, 30, is recovering in Melbourne after tearing ligaments in his shoulder during a match against Pakistan in the Sharjah Cup final in April.

"He is very determined, but it's unlikely he will play in the second Test," said Sri Lanka's Interim Cricket Board Secretary Kushil Gunasekera.

Hemaka Amarasuriya, the board's chairman, said the famous bowler's left shoulder was in a brace supported by pulleys.

"He is in a happy frame of mind," he said.

A doctor will see Muralitharan on Monday to decide if the shoulder has healed enough to remove the brace, Amarasuriya said.

Officials said they would know by next week whether the bowler would be in shape to play in the third Test starting on June 13 at England's Old Trafford Stadium.

Coach Dav Whatmore said two weeks ago the bowler would not play in the first Test match starting on May 16.

Muralitharan, the idol of millions of Sri Lankans, became the youngest bowler to snatch 400 Test victims last year.

Mail Cricket Editor