Howard silence spurs Murali

Callistus Davy reporting from Brisbane

Sri Lanka's record chasing bowler Muttiah Muralitharan has revealed he decided to make the current tour of Australia as its cricket-following Prime Minister John Howard stayed away from making remarks that would have jeopardized his focus.
Muralitharan said he felt the time was right to put back the past and appear in what may be his last Test series on Australian soil.

"The last time (2004) the Prime Minister made comments and that put me off. This time I have nothing to worry", Muralitharan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Three years ago Prime Minister Howard stepped into controversy over the legality of Muralitharan's action after an Australian laboratory declared that the bowler was bending his arm more than the stipulated margin following an authorised bio-mechanics test.

Yesterday Muralitharan appeared to be more comfortable than he ever has been as he obliged Australian spectators with chats and signed autographs for their kids after a net practice session as Sri Lanka played against the Queensland Bulls.
Muralitharan said that not even his former captain Arjuna Ranatunga had the capacity anymore to influence him to turn his back on the Australians this time.

"It has to be my opinion, not anybody else’", he said in reference to Ranatunga's call for the bowler to skip the tour citing a hostile Australian reception.

On the contrary Muralitharan said he had an obligation towards the Sri Lankan people. "They have given something to me and I have to give them something back. I am talented but without people there is no one to play for", said Muralitharan.

In a gesture that is expected to ease-off lingering tensions between the two teams, the Australian cricket board yesterday accepted a Sri Lankan proposal to play the Test series for a prize called the Warne-Murali trophy.

The first Test starts in Brisbane on November 8 and the trophy will be presented on November 20 after the second and final match in Hobart, Tasmania.