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BRISBANE, Thursday (AFP) Champion Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said here Thursday he may not return to play in Australia because of persistent crowd abuse.

The 30-year-old said he was fed up with taunts about his controversial bowling action and claimed sections of the Gabba Ground crowd laughed at him when he was injured in Sri Lanka's four-wicket loss to Australia Wednesday.

Muralitharan hurt his leg in the outfield and will not play in Friday's vital match against England in Adelaide. It is not clear how long he will be sidelined.

The injury continued Muralitharan's difficult career in Australia, where he was called for throwing in 1995-96 and 1998-99. The International Cricket Council has cleared his action. Muralitharan said he could no longer field on the boundary in Australian matches because of abuse from crowds.

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya moved him away from his position near the boundary rope Wednesday.

"They should keep their mouths shut," Muralitharan said.

"I thought it might have been better this time, but people still say things like 'chucker'.

"That's not fair to say because I have been proved not to be. The crowd should realise that and if it's going on like that I might not be able to come and play here any more.

"It's OK once or twice, but it's been going on for seven years." Muralitharan said he was "not sure" whether he would return for Sri Lanka's next Test tour to Australia, which could be as early as October, depending on scheduling.

There had been speculation whether Muralitharan would play in the current tri-nations series, but he arrived in Australia last month insisting he had never considered withdrawing.

But he has changed his mind after his first three appearances in the series, with some Gabba spectators chanting "no ball" last night when Muralitharan bowled.

He still claimed an excellent 4-27 from 10 overs, including the wickets of key Australians Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn.

Congrats to Murali

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Alhaj A.H.M. Azwer has congratulated off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for taking 300 wickets in one-day internationals.

He has wished the bowler a speedy recovery from his injury and encouraged him to bring further glory to his country in the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa.

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