Warne confident of playing Sri Lanka

Shane Warne is confident of playing some part in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, after earlier fears that a broken left hand would force him out of the entire Top End tour. The Australian reported that Warne was positive about his recovery, and felt that his chances of playing were better than 50-50 because he was "a very good healer".

"I would say my chances of playing in the first Test are now more than 50-50," said Warne. "When the match begins, it would have been 20 days since I broke it so I am optimistic. The second Test in Cairns is a week or two after that, so I have to be very confident of playing in that. All I can do to aid the healing process is not bang it again, but I am happy with the way it's going. If it continues to heal as quickly as it has done, I should be okay for Darwin. Normally I am a very good healer. I have never broken a finger before but I got over my shoulder and my knee injuries, so there is no reason why I can't get over this."

Warne damaged his hand in a first-class game for Hampshire against Essex, and when x-rays confirmed a broken bone, it appeared that the showdown between him and Muttiah Muralitharan would not take place. But in a matter of a few days, there have been twists in that tale, with Warne likely to play at least one Test, and Murali opting out of the tour. If Warne does play, both Courtney Walsh's tally of 519 wickets, and Murali's record-breaking figure - 527 - will come under threat. But with his participation still in doubt, Warne wasn't looking that far ahead.

"I don't want to say anything about Murali and if I get past Walsh, so be it," he said. "My only aim is to get fit. I'm not worried about records. My job as a bowler is to take as many wickets as I can for Australia, whoever the opposition is."