Muttiah Muralitharan says he is aiming for 600 Test wickets, but does not believe he will be durable enough to reach the 1000 mark. "I would like 600 wickets, that's about another 180," he said in Melbourne on Thursday.

"It's hard to take wickets, it depends on how good you play because sometimes you can drop down or you can do well. It depends on how you do."

Muralitharan is in Australia to receive treatment on his injured left shoulder from the same orthopaedic surgeon who operated on his bowling arm three years ago. The injury is likely to keep Muralitharan sidelined for six weeks, ruling him out of the first two Tests of the upcoming three-Test series against England.

He tore ligaments above his left shoulder-joint while fielding in the Sharjah Cup final against Pakistan on April 17.

Muralitharan recently became the youngest player ever to reach 400 Test wickets. He has recently averaged about 80 wickets per year to move to 412 victims, only 107 behind all-time record holder Courtney Walsh of West Indies.

Muralitharan and Australian legspinner Shane Warne (450) seem certain to overtake Walsh in the next couple of years, fitness permitting.

Warne, 32, will probably get there first, as Australia have a busy programme over the next 12 months, including 12 Tests against Pakistan, England and West Indies.

But Warne admitted during the recent tour of South Africa that Muralitharan was bowling so well and was so durable he could one day reach the magical 1000-wicket mark.

Muralitharan does not think he will remain in the game long enough for that to be achievable. But if he keeps playing for another five years as planned, he should end his career as the greatest wicket-taker in Test history.

Muralitharan has not met up with Warne during his time in Melbourne, but he paid tribute to him. "I think he is the greatest spinner because wrist-spin is very hard to bowl, it's difficult to control the ball," said Muralitharan. "He has bowled the best."

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd