Muralitharan set to miss out

Muttiah Muralitharan

England are likely to face a Sri Lanka side without prolific off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for the start of their five-match one-day series, according to Mahela Jayawardene.

The 35-year-old spinner has been recovering from a bicep injury he sustained while on duty for Lancashire earlier this summer, which ruled him out Sri Lanka’s challenge for the ICC World Twenty20.

Despite a lengthy recovery programme, Muralitharan was included in Sri Lanka’s squad for the series against England, which starts in Dambulla, but they are now almost resigned to losing him for the whole series.

“He’s almost there but we have to make a decision about whether he is ready for the one-day series,” Jayawardene said.

“We’ll see how he progresses, but I would say he’s definitely out of the first couple of games and we’ll see how things go after that.

"For us, the next six months are very important. We have a lot of Test cricket coming up so we need to make a sensible decision on whether he takes part."

England, aiming to claim their first one-day series win on Sri Lankan soil, are understandably sceptical about reports of Muralitharan’s absence and will plan for facing him under the lights at Dambulla.

“We’re told he’s going to be out for the first couple of games, but we’re preparing as if he’s going to be playing,” admitted captain Paul Collingwood.

“We’re not counting our chickens - he could play in those first few games and we’ll be preparing in that way.”

If Muralitharan fails to make the start of the series, leg-spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi is expected to replace him with new coach Trevor Bayliss expecting him to make an impression.

Bayliss said: “He’s a leg-spinner, he’s good in the field and he can bat a bit.

"If he gets an opportunity in this series I’m sure he’ll be able to hold his own.”