Sri Lanka prolong Murali mystery

London, May 29: Sri Lanka have kept everyone guessing over Muttiah Muralitharan's participation in the Second Test against England which starts at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Coach Dav Whatmore said the tourists would take a "calculated decision" on the off-spinner's fitness before deciding whether to select him for the second match of this three-Test series.

Muralitharan has not played cricket since dislocating his left shoulder while fielding during last month's Sharjah Cup final against Pakistan.

Treatment in Australia followed and on Tuesday Muralitharan bowled in Edgbaston's indoor nets without discomfort.

But question marks remain over whether the right-armer will be fit enough to field.

However, Sri Lanka may decide he is worth the risk.

Their bowlers dismissed England cheaply enough for 275 in the first innings at Lord's but could not perform the trick second time around as Nasser Hussain's side ensured stalemate.

Muralitharan, 30, the youngest player to 400 Test wickets, would add extra bite to the tourists' attack.

In his last Test appearance in England four years ago he took 16 wickets at The Oval as Sri Lanka comfortably won the one-off Test.

But England's batsmen had better success against him during the 2000-01 series in Sri Lanka, restricting him to just 14 wickets in the three-Test campaign.

"At the end of the day it will be a calculated decision based upon his degree of skill, his obvious success rate as a bowler compared to the other areas of cricket, and the certain levels you have to reach," Whatmore said Tuesday.

"It's a balanced view taking into consideration batting and fielding.

"We would not have been able to consider it a few weeks ago, now we have the option of playing him depending on the next 40-odd hours.

"He is not 100 percent but there is a chance. If he does play we will need to know what his limitations are."

Even during his spell on the sidelines Muralitharan, whose unorthodox action has been an enduring source of controversy, has been under the spotlight.

Australia wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist was recently disciplined by his home board for suggesting Murali was a "chucker" but has since apologised to the bowler via a telephone call.

Ironically, Muralitharan's inclusion would help keep the lid on a throwing row involving another Sri Lanka bowler, Ruchira Perera.

Left-arm seamer Perera was the tourists' most successful bowler at Lord's with five wicket but subsequently had his action reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) by the match officials.

Australian bowling coach Daryl Foster, who is with the Sri Lankan squad, has begun a process of remedial work with the combative paceman who is nevertheless eligible for Edgbaston.

"We need to get into a situation where we can do without the hassle of people questioning his (Perera's) action," said Whatmore.

"We want to ensure his re-entry into international cricket as soon as possible.

"He is a pretty bouncy character, a likeable character and a hard worker. His behaviour has been fantastic and we are helping him as much as possible."

England too have bowling problems, albeit of a different sort.

On a flat-wicket at Lord's their four-man pace attack lacked the skill to disturb Sri Lanka's strokeplayers as they piled up 555 for eight declared.

Hussain berated his bowlers for their lack of discipline and also said there was a lack of "mystery" among English bowlers as a whole.

England have chosen uncapped Glamorgan quick Simon Jones in their 14-man squad but it is Surrey's Alex Tudor who is most likely to provide an injection of extra pace into the final XI. 

Dominic Cork is reportedly still struggling with a groin strain and Tudor, whose own injury problems appear to have been succesfully treated at last following diagnosis of a 'hot-spot' near his groin, appears to be the obvious replacement.

"He has a good chance of playing here and it's up to Alex really, said Hussain.

"Anyone who can take two five-wicket hauls in eight Test matches and against Australia can bowl and it's up to him to perform to those levels on a regular basis."

Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, omitted from Lord's, could play on his home ground if England decide to do without a seventh specialist batsman.