New doubts have been cast on Muttiah Muralitharan's long term fitness prospects by the fact that the Sri Lankan team manager, Chandra Schaffter, forbade questions about his star bowler's medical condition when he appeared at a press conference at the close of play on the third day of the second npower Test at Edgbaston.

It seemed a strange condition, bearing in mind that Murali had just bowled 64 overs in the England first innings, taking five for 143. However, the bowler himself admitted that he did not expect to play in the match because he was not one hundred per cent fit.

"When I came here I did not think I would play, but the team always comes first. I was bowling all right but I didn't pick up many wickets at the start and the same today, because today I was tired. I have not played for almost one and a half months and I haven't trained either and I just came here, had two or three net sessions and then went straight into the game.

"It was difficult for me to adjust to match conditions, but I think I bowled all right because the slowness of the pitch made it more difficult because I am unable to bowl quicker than I did. I should bowl a little bit quicker than I am bowling now."

He described the exact nature of his injury, despite the restrictions imposed by the management. "I cannot push this left shoulder hard because it clicks. Whenever the two bones hit together, the pain starts." The long term prognosis is not good if two bones are clicking together.

Muralitharan said he felt the effects of the first day. "There was soreness in the shoulders but you don't think about the pain when you bowl - you just think about how you are going to get the batsman out. It's all mind games, so if you're tough enough you can do anything."

Asked how long it will take him to get back to his best he said: "I don't know because it is a difficult decision to take whether I play the next Test or not. I can't bat and I can't field so it restricts me and I don't want to play like that. I have to consider the team and the management and find what they say. If the team wants me to, I will play.

After admitting that the side as a whole had lacked penetration, therefore putting added pressure on him, he still thinks that Sri Lanka can save the game.

"Although we have lost two wickets, the pitch is still very good and two batsmen are there who got hundreds in the Lord's Test. That was after we had lost two early wickets so if they can put on the same type of show that they did at Lord's we can definitely save the match."

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