Muralitharan doubtful for Test

Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is doubtful for next week's first Test against England.

Muralitharan - the most obvious match-winner on either side - is on his way home from New Zealand after aggravating an old injury yesterday while playing in a game of minimal importance.

Murali was asked to struggle through the remainder of his 10-over spell in Christchurch, despite having earlier been helped off the field. Then he went out to bat with a runner as Sri Lanka unsuccessfully attempted to complete a 5-0 one-day whitewash of the Kiwis.

In the event, New Zealand won and one senior commentator here said the policy "defied imagination".

Murali, who took 16 wickets in his last Test against England at The Oval two-and-a-half years ago, missed the end of Sri Lanka's recent tour to South Africa because of a groin injury.

But he still played in all five of the one-dayers in New Zealand - and damaged his groin again while fielding yesterday.

The first Test against England in Galle starts on Thursday week.