Muralitharan may skip Australian tour

Sydney, June 5: Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan may miss a One Day International Series with England and Australia here in December-January because of fears local umpires will call him for chucking.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph reported today that the Sri Lankan believed Australian umpires are targetting him unfairly and it would not be worth coming here just a month before the World Cup in South Africa.

Muralitharan may well be right. Former policeman Ross Emerson, the last umpire to no-ball the Sri Lankan, said last week the 30-year-old was paving the way for a generation of chuckers.

Emerson, who no-balled the off-spinner amid dramatic scenes in Adelaide three years ago, said it was "an absolute joke" Muralitharan was on track to become Test cricket's top wicket-taker of all time, as he neared West Indian Courtney Walsh's record of 519.

Muralitharan's tally is 417 from 74 Tests after he captured 5 for 143 in a marathon 64-over stint against England in the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Saturday, when he snapped up five or more victims in an innings for the 34th time.

"They are talking about him as the best spin bowler ever, but how many people has he got out through illegal actions?" Emerson asked in an interview with the Perth Sunday Times.

Emerson's broadside came only days after Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist was reprimanded by the Australian Cricket Board for saying Muralitharan's action was illegal.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has agreed with Sri Lankan officials that an "anatomical disorder" gives the illusion that Muralitharan's arm does not straighten.

Emerson sparked amazing scenes at Adelaide Oval in the 1998-99 season when he no-balled Muralitharan during a one-day game between Sri Lanka and England.

Emerson's action led to a threat by Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga to take his team from the field.

It was some minutes before Ranatunga agreed to resume the match.

Emerson paid a big price for his action - he was sacked by the ACB two days later and has not been reinstated to international duties.