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 Thursday, 30 May, 2002, 05:00 GMT 06:00 UK
Sri Lanka wait on Murali
Muralitharan is expected to play on Thursday
Muralitharan is expected to play on Thursday
Second Test, Edgbaston
1100 BST, Thursday, 30 May

Full commentary available on Test Match Special, Radio 4, 198 LW and Radio Five Live Sports Extra.

Sri Lanka will give Muttiah Muralitharan every chance to prove his fitness before naming their side for the second Test against England.

The tourists are prepared to wait until an hour before the start of the match at Edgbaston to allow Muralitharan's injured shoulder to heal.


We have got the chisel out, we are shaping the side but we are not quite sure on the final 11
Dav Whatmore
Sri Lanka coach
He has not played since suffering partial dislocation and tendon damage in his left shoulder while fielding in Sharjah.

But with his match-winning ability the Sri Lankan management are willing to play him even if he is not completely fit.

They have not won any of the 12 matches he has missed since he made his debut in 1992-93.

He had ice packs applied to the problem area after two extensive spells on Wednesday but his inclusion was not guaranteed.

"We have got the chisel out, we are shaping the side but we are not quite sure on the final 11," said coach Dav Whatmore.

But England opener Michael Vaughan said Murali's presence in the Sri Lanka line-up would not intimidate the home side.


(Murali) is a massive threat but we have done well against him in the past
Michael Vaughan
"He is a magnificent bowler but he hasn't bowled for a while so he is going to be rusty," said Vaughan.

"It's all about patience. In Sri Lanka we had an excellent plan against him.

"It's all down to a lot of mental visualisation and watching videos, making your preparation against him as thorough as you can."

That preparation helped England restrict Murali to only 14 wickets during the series in Sri Lanka last year and limited his strike rate to a wicket every 100 balls - almost double his career average.

Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board is stalling on how best to respond to criticisms made by Mark Butcher about Sri Lankan seamer Ruchira Perera.

The bowler has been reported to the International Cricket Council for remedial work on his action after umpires spotted an apparent flaw in his technique at Lord's.


I don't want to make any off-the-cuff remark about what (Butcher) has said
ECB's John Read
Ahead of the Edgbaston Test, Butcher wrote in his column for the Croydon Advertiser: "Having faced him for some time, I can say that he definitely straightens his arm."

Butcher's comments follow an incident earlier this week when Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist poured further doubt over the action of Muralitharan.

Gilchrist was charged with breaching the code of conduct laid down by the Australian Cricket Board.

And now the ECB will be under pressure to discipline Butcher.

Dominic Cork may miss out on Thursday
Dominic Cork may miss out on Thursday

Ironically, Muralitharan is set to replace Perera for the Test and Sri Lanka could also bring in their other seamer Dilhara Fernando, even though he is short of practice.

England are expected to persist with their cautious approach of seven batsman and four bowlers.

But this time, Alex Tudor should come in for Dominic Cork.

Ashley Giles will probably have to put up with another match on the sidelines, while Simon Jones will also almost certainly be surplus to requirements.

Sunshine and the odd shower is expected on the first day, but from Friday the forecast is for fair weather with prolonged sunshine on Saturday and Sunday.


England (probable): N Hussain (capt), A J Stewart (wkt), M E Trescothick, M P Vaughan, M A Butcher, G P Thorpe, J P Crawley, A Flintoff, A J Tudor, A R Caddick, M J Hoggard

Sri Lanka (probable): S T Jayasuriya (capt), M S Atapattu, K C Sangakkara (wkt), D P M D Jayawardene, P A de Silva, H P Tillakaratne, R P Arnold, W P U J C Vaas, D N T Zoysa, C R D Fernando, M Muralitharan.

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
News image BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew
"One bad fall could sideline Murali for three months"
News image England chairman of selectors David Graveney
"We've prepared for him playing"
News image Sri Lanka team manager Chandra Shaffter
"He's still not sure himself"
News image Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya
"I would love to play Murali"
Sri Lanka squad: Player profiles

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