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Northampton, Friday - Former England batsman Robin Smith does not believe off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan chucks and ranks him as one of the greatest spinners the game has ever produced.

Writing in the World Cup '99 souvenir, Smith says: ``I want to go on record as saying I don't believe that Muralitharan is a chucker. We should forget all about this throwing nonsense and let the lad get on with his cricket without fear of contravening the laws.

``His action has been passed fit by a special ICC panel. End of story. Nothing was picked-up on video by the England Cricket Board when he played against the counties - prior to the Oval Test match - last summer. Plus, he has a doctor's certificate saying he can't straighten his arm. His bowling action starts with a bent arm and finishes with a bent arm. That does not constitute a throw.

``Leave him alone, and let's give a warm welcome to one of the greatest spinners the game has ever seen''.

Dav Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka to win the World Cup three years ago, and presently Lancashire coach, says that ``Sri Lanka has a much higher level of expectation to contend with, (in the present World Cup) both within themselves, and also from the public because of the previous superb World Cup tournament and some wonderful performances intermittently since then''.

Talking of Sri Lanka's chances of retaining the title in the '1999 Cricket World Cup official magazine', Whatmore writes: ``Sri Lanka are still highly respected as a one-day team but outside of the Asian countries opposition teams probably fancy their chances a bit more''.

Whatmore says that Sri Lanka should shift slightly the strategy of the way they bat and play more conservatively in the first 15 overs because in conditions in May and June, the ball will move around in the air.

He figures Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva and Muthiah Muralitharan as the three key players in his opinion with the captain Arjuna Ranatunga, a close fourth.

``To me Ranatunga is the calming influence within that batting team. He has some very fine qualities, he is a religious man and a really strong family man, but also single-minded on certain issues. You can see the steel in his eyes and his body language, and he will not often change to please other people. He has had a lot of success that way but it does tend itself to controversy,'' says Whatmore.

The former coach ranks Upul Chandana as good as Jonty Rhodes and Ricky Ponting, and says ``he has not been given the credit he deserves. He is a little whippet who is very quick with a hard throw. He is also useful with his leg breaks, and he can handle the bat''.

Whatmore considers Marvan Atapattu as ``having as much ability as Aravinda de Silva and a superb stroke player in the David Gower mould''. ``With each innings he plays, he gets more accustomed to the level of pressure in international cricket''.

Recalling the World Cup triumph of three years ago, Whatmore writes: ``We did not go into the World Cup thinking we were going to win it. It was only after the last of the league games, when we played India in front of a packed crowd and beat them, that I knew we had a really good chance of shaking it. I said to the boys you can only do your best, see how you go, and it all worked out well in the end ``.