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Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore has admitted that star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan may not be able to play any part in the forthcoming series against England.

It was hoped that Muralitharan would only miss the first of the three Test matches after suffering a slight dislocation and torn ligaments in his left shoulder.

The injury does not require surgery, but he is wearing a special sling and Whatmore is unable to give a precise estimate of when he will be back in action.

"At the moment we cannot say he will be here in England to play on any given date.

Initial reports were that he would be fit in four weeks. What we do know is that the brace will be off in three weeks".

Muralitharan is easily Sri Lanka's most successful bowler, with 414 Test wickets to his credit, 16 of them coming in the one-off match against England at The Oval four years ago.

But Whatmore believes his side, who have won their last nine Tests, are capable of challenging England on home soil even without Muralitharan.

"Any team that loses a bowler that boasts 414 Test wickets must be missed, but that's life.

"We have a great opportunity to show people we are not a one bowler team".

Whatmore played down any lingering ill-feeling between the two teams following disputes over umpiring decisions in Sri Lanka last year.

"That is all history now and we are looking forward to this series in England", he said.

"We want people to be talking about the cricket. The Sri Lankan style of play is wonderful to

watch. Sometimes I sit and marvel at it from the dressing room".(Courtesy BBC).

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