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LONDON, Thursday - Sri Lanka off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan was forced to sit out the entire first day of his county debut match for Lancashire against Gloucestershire at Bristol yesterday when rain washed out play.

Sri Lanka's early exit from the World Cup ensured that Muralitharan start his contract with the English county sooner than expected. Muralitharan has been signed on by Lancashire for one year as their overseas player for 1999 in preference to Pakistan captain Wasim Akram.

``The weather is certainly most disappointing,'' said Muralitharan as he became acquainted with his new team mates. Muralitharan is not alone for company because the coach of Lancashire is Dav Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka to win the World Cup three years ago.

``I'm disappointed about the World Cup. But it can't be helped. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It is difficult to say where it went wrong because, altogether, we did not play well,'' said Muralitharan.

``It's a first season for me playing county cricket and I just want to enjoy it. I haven't set myself any targets, but I simply want to take as many wickets as possible for Lancashire,'' he said.

Muralitharan is best remembered in England for taking 16 wickets for 220 runs in the one-off Test at the Oval last year - the fifth best bowling analysis in Test cricket, during which performance he also took his 200th wicket in only his 42nd Test.

Muralitharan was picked one of Wisden's 'Five Cricketers of the Year' in the 1999 publication for his outstanding performances on the tour which brought him 34 wickets at an average of 13 in the three first-class matches.

Lancashire will look to Muralitharan to bring them their first outright championship title since 1934. But the spin king will be available to the county only till the end of July because he will be recalled for national duty at home when Australia and India make a tour.