Muralitharan to end Test career

Muralitharan is the all-time record wicket-taker in Test cricket

Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will retire from Test cricket in 2010 after being warned he will do long-term damage to his knee if he continues.

However, the all-time record wicket-taker in Test and one-day international cricket plans to continue in the game's shorter forms.

"I'm thinking next year's Test series against West Indies in September will be my last," said Muralitharan, 37.

"But I still want to play on if I can to the 2011 World Cup."

The off-spinner has struggled with injuries in recent years and a torn tendon in his right knee forced him to miss the 2-0 series win against Pakistan.

With surgeons warning he faces long-term pain in his knee, he said his body could not cope with five-day matches for much longer.

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"I put in a lot of effort in the past month to get fit," Muralitharan said.

"The doctors told me I have to go through the pain and train harder because an operation will mean me being out for six to seven months.

"They think I'll be able to play for one to two years and told me to have the operation when I finish playing.

"That means my career is almost over and I am not going to play for long."

Muralitharan made his Test debut in 1992 and became the highest wicket-taker in Tests when he broke Australian Shane Warne's record haul of 708 in 2007.

He has picked up 770 test wickets in 127 matches at 22 runs per wicket and could become the first player to claim 800.

The off-spinner has also taken 507 wickets in one-day internationals, a figure he should continue to add to, having passed Wasim Akram's record of 502 in 2009.

After recovering from his latest knee injury Muralitharan is currently in Sri Lanka's one-day international squad for their series against Pakistan.

And he showed he still has plenty to offer in the short form of the game by taking two wickets for 46 and scoring 32 runs from 15 balls in his side's 36-run win in the first one-day international.

"I prefer to play Twenty20s and ODI cricket," he said.

"I want to play ODI cricket until the next World Cup and T20s for a few more years."

Fellow Sri Lankan legend Chaminda Vaas, 35, retired from Test cricket a week ago after his side's third-Test draw with Pakistan in Colombo.