Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan may miss a one-day international tri-series with England and Australia here inDecember-January because of fears that local umpires will call him for chucking.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday that Muralitharan believed the Australian umpires are targeting him unfairly and it would not be worth coming here just a month before the World Cup in South Africa.

Muralitharan may well be right.

Former policeman Ross Emerson, the last umpire to no-ball him, said last week that Muralitharan was paving the way for a generation of chuckers. Emerson said it was "an absolute joke" Muralitharan was on track to become Test cricket's top wicket-taker of all time, as he neared West Indian Courtney Walsh's record of 519.

Muralitharan's tally is 417 wickets from 74 Tests after he captured 5 for 143 in a marathon 64-over stint against England in the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Saturday. It was the 34th time he had snapped up a five-for.

"They are talking about him as the best spin bowler ever, but how many people has he got out through illegal actions?" Emerson asked in an interview with the Perth Sunday Times. Emerson's broadside came only days after Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist was reprimanded by the Australian Cricket Board for saying Muralitharan's action was illegal.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has agreed with Sri Lankan officials that an "anatomical disorder" gives the illusion that Muralitharan's arm does not straighten.

Emerson sparked amazing scenes at the Adelaide Oval in the 1998-99 season when he no-balled Muralitharan during a one-day game between Sri Lanka and England. Emerson's action led to a threat by Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga to take his team from the field.

Emerson paid a big price for his action - he was sacked by the ACB two days later and has not been reinstated to international duties.

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