IT is asking a lot for Muttiah Muralitharan to repeat his amazing performances during his previous stint with Lancashire, when he took 66 wickets in only six Championship matches.

But the ever smiling little Sri Lankan believes he can do even better!

Murali was back at Old Trafford yesterday, bowling in the nets and catching up with the team-mates who took him to heart in 1999, ahead of today's early-season showdown with the champions Surrey.

And when asked whether he could possibly match his previous efforts, the Kandy man said: "I'm looking forward to doing better than last time."

Muralitharan still never stops smiling, so it is always difficult to tell whether he is being serious.

But he certainly does not lack faith in his own ability. When the subject of Courtney Walsh, and his world-record haul of 519 Test wickets, cropped up, Murali said simply: "If I play for another three or four years I will reach 500."

And what about bringing the Championship to Old Trafford for the first time since 1934?

"I'm looking forward to winning the Championship," he grinned. "I think I will do it this time."

Coach Bob Simpson was not around when Murali was working his magic two years ago, but he is understandably delighted to have him in his team.

"I first saw him in his first Test Match, and you could tell how different he was from anything we'd seen before because Allan Border thought he bowled leg-spinners," Simpson reflected.

Mindful of Murali's last stint at Old Trafford, when Lancashire lost to Warwickshire at Southport and Surrey at the Oval despite two 10-wicket hauls from the new boy, Simpson added: "What he will find here now is a team fielding better and a very strong bowling attack for him to come into.

"We got beaten quite easily by Surrey at the Oval last year yet twice in that match we were on top," continued the Lancashire coach.

"They are a very good cricket side but they can be beaten, and a spinner in the class of Murali goes a long way to it. If we can put a lot of pressure on them, they do play a lot of shots - providing our batsmen can get enough runs."

Graham Lloyd was again missing from the Lancashire squad today, with Muralitharan replacing Gary Keedy who suffered a back injury in the opening victory over Somerset at Taunton. Muttiah Muralitharan - believes he can improve on his performances for Lancashire this time around. IT is asking a lot for Muttiah Muralitharan to repeat his amazing performances during his previous stint with Lancashire, when he took 66 wickets in only six Championship matches.

But the ever smiling little Sri Lankan believes he can do even better!

Murali was back at Old Trafford yesterday, bowling in the nets and catching up with the team-mates who took him to heart in 1999, ahead of today's early-season showdown with the champions Surrey.

And when asked whether he could possibly match his previous efforts, the Kandy man said: "I'm looking forward to doing better than last time."

Muralitharan still never stops smiling, so it is always difficult to tell whether he is being serious.

But he certainly does not lack faith in his own ability. When the subject of Courtney Walsh, and his world-record haul of 519 Test wickets, cropped up, Murali said simply: "If I play for another three or four years I will reach 500."

And what about bringing the Championship to Old Trafford for the first time since 1934?

Grinned

"I'm looking forward to winning the Championship," he grinned. "I think I will do it this time."

Coach Bob Simpson was not around when Murali was working his magic two years ago, but he is understandably delighted to have him in his team.

"I first saw him in his first Test Match, and you could tell how different he was from anything we'd seen before because Allan Border thought he bowled leg-spinners," Simpson reflected.

Mindful of Murali's last stint at Old Trafford, when Lancashire lost to Warwickshire at Southport and Surrey at the Oval despite two 10-wicket hauls from the new boy, Simpson added: "What he will find here now is a team fielding better and a very strong bowling attack for him to come into.

"We got beaten quite easily by Surrey at the Oval last year yet twice in that match we were on top," continued the Lancashire coach.

"They are a very good cricket side but they can be beaten, and a spinner in the class of Murali goes a long way to it. If we can put a lot of pressure on them, they do play a lot of shots - providing our batsmen can get enough runs."

Graham Lloyd was again missing from the Lancashire squad today, with Muralitharan replacing Gary Keedy who suffered a back injury in the opening victory over Somerset at Taunton.