Murali to join Sri Lanka in London

Colombo, May 13: Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who is in Australia recovering from a shoulder injury, is due to join the Sri Lanka team in England later this week, cricket officials said Monday.

Muralitharan, 30, suffered a slight dislocation and torn ligaments to his left shoulder during the Sharjah Cup final against Pakistan last month.

"A decision on when he will be available to play has not yet been taken," the cricket board said in a statement.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to play a three Test series in England followed by a triangular one-day tournament involving England and India.

Muralitharan's injury has ruled him out of the first Test, which will begin on Thursday at Lords.

Muralitharan has taken 412 wickets from 73 Test matches with an average of 23.38. He has taken five wickets in an inning 33 times and 10-wicket hauls in a match 10 times.

He was the world's highest wicket-taker for the past two years, capturing 80 wickets in 12 matches in 2001 and 75 wickets in 10 matches in 2000, the cricket board said.