 Sri Lanka will have to cope without their most talented player |
Muttiah Muralitharan will miss four months of cricket, including the ICC Champions Trophy in England, as he gets set for surgery on his right shoulder. His surgeon David Young said the world record Test wicket-taker had a type of cyst which has caused a build-up of fluid around the nerves.
He said: "We've advised him to have the surgery otherwise if it gets worse it could threaten his career."
Australian Shane Warne will now almost certainly gain the world record.
Muralitharan said philosphically: "Nothing is a certainty in life.
"I think other people have to have a share. Shane Warne is a wonderful bowler and he should also have the record."
Warne, who completed a 12-month doping ban in February, will have his chance to claim the record outright during Australia's four-Test tour of India in October.
He is currently five wickets behind Murali's mark of 532.
Australia also host two Tests against New Zealand and three against Pakistan during their summer.
As well as the Champions Trophy, Murali will probably also miss Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand in December. The 32-year-old off-spinner has been troubled by his shoulder in the past.
Two years ago, he was rushed to Australia for surgery after tearing ligaments while fielding in the Sharjah Cup final against Pakistan.
He was forced to miss the start of a Test series in England and it took him a while to regain his rhythm.
MMIX
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Murali bowls so much for Sri Lanka in every innings, he needs a break to get over all the niggling injuries he carries
