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Muttiah Muralitharan, the extraordinary Sri Lankan spinner, is likely to escape censure during his time with Lancashire this summer despite deep reservations about the legality of his controversial action held by several English umpires.

His prodigious off-breaks have already brought 203 wickets in 42 Tests as well as causing major incidents when two Australian umpires, Darrell Hair and Ross Emerson, called him for throwing and at least half a dozen of England's 26 first-class officials are not convinced that his action is legitimate.

Barrie Leadbeater, chairman of the first-class umpires, admits that there could be difficulties with interpretations. ``I can see problems that might arise, but I shall be asking the lads at our meeting next month that they if they're not happy with a delivery or a spell, not to call him but instead fill out the appropriate part of their report and let the authorities sort it out. They must decide once and for all whether his action is legal or not,'' Leadbeater said.

One senior umpire who did not want to be named because of possible repercussions, said: ``Given the precise wording of the law I don't see how any umpire can be entirely satisfied with the absolute fairness on the evidence of what I have seen. Naturally every delivery has to be judged on its merits, but until someone tells me differently I shall interpret the law to the letter.''