Gough: Keeping cool Photo © AFP

Darren Gough has spoken of the importance of Muralitharan to the Sri Lankan side, and the vital consequences his groin injury could have on the forthcoming Test series.

"Murali is still the big gun for them, the leader of the pack and if he were to be missing then it would certainly make our lives a lot easier over the next few weeks," reasoned Gough.

Muralitharan, who recently took his 300th Test wicket, is expected to be a key man in the Test series. Gough made no secret of the England team's hope that he will be unable to face them when the series starts on 22nd February, but pointed out that Sri Lanka are far more than a one-man unit and will, in any event, field a highly competitive side.

"It would be nice if he wasn't fit. He is their most dangerous bowler, but there are some very good spin bowlers in this country and most of the lads were impressed by them in the last game," Gough said.

The Sri Lankan coach, Dav Whatmore, admitted that the injury was a concern to the Sri Lankan side. "There's not much we can do but put ice on the affected part," he said. "It's a bit of a worry for us with England around the corner, but we'll hope for the best."

Gough also explained some of the difficulties the tourists are encountering in adapting to the hot Sri Lankan conditions.

"It's 100 degrees here, it's hot, it's very hard work and some time on the tour I'm sure somebody is going to lose their temper about this, but there's nothing wrong with that -- that's the game of cricket," he explained.

He also defended the English teams frequent appeals during the Sri Lankan Board President's XI game, remarking that: "You can't get a wicket without appealing and it's up to the umpires then to make the decision. I don't think our appealing got out of hand -- it's the way you play the game.

"If we think somebody is out then we will appeal and there is nothing wrong with that -- if it's going down the leg-side I don't think you'll find many England players appealing.

"But if I think it is close then I will appeal, which is no different than most if not all the other teams in the world do, and is all part of playing the game.

"It can be very frustrating when things don't go for you because some days you get the decision and on others you don't, and it's up to us to keep our cool. It's not easy sometimes, but you just have to get on with it -- if you think you've got a batsman out and the umpire says not out then that's just tough."

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