Muralitharan and Flintoff were team-mates at Lancashire

And England's likely captain for the first Test at Lord's rubbished claims his former Lancashire team-mate has an illegal bowling action.

"I'm not saying I find Warney easy but Murali is the bowler who has given me most problems over the years.

"His action has been cleared and it's time everyone just focused on his achievements," he said.

"I have total respect for him. I know he has been hurt by the criticism over the years but he knows there won't be any from me."

Muralitharan, 34, took three wickets in his first game of the trip, against Derbyshire on Saturday.

And he is determined to make the most of what could be his last Test series in England.

"It could be the last tour for me," he said.

"We may not be back until 2009 or 2010. How long my career will last I don't know, so I have to make it memorable.

"I hope I can play for another three years. I'll see after the World Cup how things go."

Derbyshire v Sri Lanka latest

Murali insisted he is not bothered by discussion of his delivery, which has been passed as legal after being reported several times.

And he hopes a marathon 30-over spell in Derby will stand him in good stead when he faces England on 11 May.

"I've done all the tests you can do, and everything has come back fine - so there is nothing to prove any more," he said.

"I'm just trying to make use of it for practice for the Lord's Test.