Muralitharan, the top Test cricket wicket-taker of all time, has a genetic defect which stops him fully straightening his bowling arm. After being reported to the International Cricket Council over a suspect action, Muralitharan has been ordered to stop bowling his fearsome doosra or face being suspended for up to a year. Colombo's Daily News quoted an unnamed Sri Lanka official as advising Muralitharan not to bowl the doosra.

Muralitharan and Sri Lanka aim to heap further misery on a second-string Zimbabwe team during the second Test starting in Bulawayo last night. Muralitharan became Test cricket's highest wicket-taker in the first match in Harare when he surpassed West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh's mark of 519 victims. Eight wickets over two innings gave him a haul of 521 as Sri Lanka ruthlessly punished a hapless Zimbabwe team to win by an innings and 240 runs.

Zimbabwe, which was also whitewashed 5-0 in the one-dayers, fielded a weakened line-up after 15 experienced players made themselves unavailable in a dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, which fired the rebels this week. "We're up against a very good side and we didn't play well enough in any areas," Zimbabwe coach Geoff Marsh said.

"To make 199 in the first innings and 102 in the second innings is not enough to win a Test match, we've got to get more runs," he said. - agencies