Murali likely to miss Test warm-up

Sangakkara a doubtful starter for first Test

BRISBANE, (AFP) - Star bowler Muttiah Muralitharan is expected to be rested for Sri Lanka’s final warm-up match ahead of next week’s first cricket Test against Australia at the Gabba here.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene indicated the spin wizard would sit out the three-day game with Queensland starting on Friday after his marathon bowling stint against the Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI at Adelaide Oval.
Muralitharan, nine wickets away from outstripping Shane Warne’s Test record of 708, proved his fitness from a bicep injury with 4-122 off 44 overs in Monday’s drawn three-day match.

A team spokesman said a final decision on Muralitharan’s availability was yet to be made after the Sri Lankan team arrived here Tuesday.
But Jayawardene hinted that Muralitharan was likely to miss Friday’s game as the tourists look to ease their trump card into the two-Test series starting at the Gabba on November 8.

“If he continues the practice and all that, if he’s happy with his rhythm we’ll probably keep him out,” Jayawardene told reporters.
“So if Murali feels that he’ll probably need another match before the Test match we’ll consider that, but if not we’ll probably keep him out.”

There are no fitness concerns for Muralitharan after he sent down 25 overs on Sunday and another 19 Monday in his first game back since injuring his bicep playing for English county Lancashire in August.
Fears have been voiced he could receive unsportsmanlike treatment in Australia, where he has been called for “throwing” on two previous tours and subjected to constant crowd calls of “no ball.”

Sri Lanka vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara is a doubtful starter for the first Test against Australia in Brisbane on November 8 after scans revealed a grade one tear in his left hamstring. The injury was sustained on Saturday during the team’s first warm-up match in Adelaide.

Sangakkara remained optimistic of his chances of making the Test, although he will miss the second and final warm-up match against Queensland on Friday.

“I would say it’s definitely a grade one tear,” he said in Adelaide on Tuesday prior to flying to Queensland. “But we will have to see when the MRIs are assessed. Realistically, I’m just trying to make sure I do everything right with my treatment and make sure I get ready for the Test.”

Replacement Sujeewa de Silva has been sought for left-arm pace bowler Chanaka Welagedara (thigh), who bowled only six overs (1-23) against the Chairman’s XI.

De Silva played in the last Test series against Bangladesh in July and has been called over from Zimbabwe where he is playing with the Sri Lanka A side.

“If he (de Silva) arrives in time he will probably play in that (the tour match against Queensland) -- he’s been playing some good cricket,” Jayawardene said.