Warne can now target Murali's Test wicket-taking record

Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne will play in next month's two-Test series against Sri Lanka despite suffering from a broken hand.

Warne sustained the injury playing for county side Hampshire over a week ago, putting him in jeopardy for the series.

He said: "I will be fine to play. I had an X-ray and the doctor is very happy.

"The hand will still be sore for a while and I will probably have a bit of discomfort, but it will not stop me from performing my usual duties."

Warne now has a chance of moving ahead of Muttiah Muralitharan on the all-time Test wicket-taker's list.

"I don't play for records, I never really have," Warne said.

"But if you get the opportunity to break the world record, it's a carrot that's dangling for two Test matches and that's pretty exciting," added Warne, who needs 11 wickets to pass Muralitharan's 527.

I might have to try to jump on this opportunity for the next couple of Test matches Shane Warne

"Hopefully I can get a few wickets and if I can break that world record, that would be great."

But even if he does take the record next month, Warne predicts it will eventually end up with Murali.

"He is probably going to play for another five or six years," Warne said.

"If he keeps taking 70 or 80 wickets a year, he's going to be pretty close to a thousand.

"I don't think I'll get anywhere near a thousand. So I might have to try to jump on this opportunity for the next couple of Test matches."

Off-spinner Murali pulled out of the Australia tour for personal reasons, prompting Warne to call him "thin-skinned".

The Sri Lankan's controversial bowling action has been the target of crowd insults on previous visits Down Under.

Australia v Sri Lanka: Itinerary

Murali's 'doosra' delivery was recently outlawed by the International Cricket Council and Aussie prime minister John Howard added salt to the wound by branding him a "chucker".