Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who is in Australia recovering from a shoulder injury, is scheduled to join the Sri Lanka team in England later this week.

Muralitharan suffered a slight dislocation and torn ligaments to his left shoulder while fielding in the Sharjah Cup 2002 final versus Pakistan in Sharjah on 17th April. He was treated immediately by doctors in Sharjah, and then flew to Australia for treatment by specialists in Melbourne.

Muralitharan's injury has ruled him out of the first Test, which will begin on Thursday, 16th May at Lords. A decision on when he will be available to play has not yet been taken. Sri Lanka is scheduled to play a 3-Test series in England followed by a Triangular One-Day Tournament featuring England and India. The 2nd Test will be from 30th May to 3rd June at Edgbaston, with the 3rd Test from 13th June to 17th June at Old Trafford.

Thirty-year-old Muralitharan currently has 412 wickets from 73 Test matches at an average of 23.38, having taken five wickets in an inning 33 times and 10-wicket hauls in a match 10 times. He was the world's highest wicket-taker for the last two years, capturing 80 wickets in 12 matches in 2001 and 75 wickets in 10 matches in 2000. He was named CEAT International Cricketer of the Year for the second successive year in 2001.

© BCCSL