Murali ruled out of tournament

Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the highest wicket-taker in Test Match cricket, will miss up to four of cricketing action, including the forthcoming One-Day series at home against South Africa, as well as the following ICC Champions Trophy in England, as he prepares for a surgery on his right shoulder.

Muralitharan, who pulled out of the on-going second Test against the Proteas, aggravated a long continuing wear and tear, thus building up fluid around the nerve. The complication will require surgery, essentially immediate, as a result of which the master spinner headed off to Australia this last Thursday.

Though initial analysis by the team physiotherapist CJ Clarke indicated that a surgery may not be needed, Muralitharan's surgeon, David Young, has confirmed that it is a must, if further damage needs to be prevented, "We've advised him to have the surgery otherwise if it gets worse it could threaten his career."

What this means is that Muralitharan might not miss only the forthcoming One-Day matches, but also the island country's tour to New Zealand later this year in December, which puts his rival Shane Warne in an easy spot to overtake 532 wickets, the current world record held by the off-spinner.

Posted by Sudeep