Tsunami relief drew Murali back to Australia: Atapattu

Muttiah Muralitharan with Shane Warne before the Tsunami Appeal match at Melbourne © Getty Images

Australia's generous response to the Indian Ocean tsunami relief effort convinced Muttiah Muralitharan to play for Sri Lanka in the one-day series in Australia, Marvan Atapattu, the Sri Lanka captain, said on Tuesday.

Muralitharan arrived with the 16-man squad on Monday for the one-day tri-series with Australia and South Africa, and Atapattu said Muralitharan had no qualms about coming this time. "He's willing to give 100 percent for me and the team," Atapattu told reporters. Atapattu said it was clear Australia's response to tsunami on December 26, 2004, particularly a fund-raising match Muralitharan was part of in Melbourne last year, caused his change of heart. Muralitharan was also part of the World XI Test and one-day teams which played against Australia at Sydney and Melbourne last October.

Muralitharan refused to go on Sri Lanka's last tour to Australia in 2004 because of constant "no-ball" chants by Australian crowds. He was also labelled a "chucker" by Prime Minister John Howard. It was the low-point in a frosty cricket relationship with Australia which began when he was called for throwing by Darrell Hair, the Australian umpire, in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne in 1995.

Tom Moody, the Sri Lanka coach, urged Australian crowds to end the "no-ball" chants. "It's not ideal and it's a shame that it happens, particularly since he's gone through every test and scrutiny a player could possibly go through," Moody said. "We just need to enjoy the special talent he's got and let the game progress."

Sri Lanka play Victoria on Wednesday in their only warm-up match before the tri-series opener against Australia at Melbourne on Friday.