MUTTIAH Muralitharan has delayed his return to Sri Lanka until August 18, freeing him to play in all three of Lancashire Lightning's CGU National League matches over the next eight days.

Murali was already pencilled in for today's Old Trafford clash with Gloucester Gladiators at Old Trafford and the first leg of the floodlit double-header with Yorkshire at Headingley on Thursday.

But a doubt remained over his availability for the Roses return at Old Trafford on August 17 until he confirmed it today.

Lancashire now plan to turn it into a big send-off for the little Sri Lankan spinner who will receive his second player of the month award before the start.

Murali joined the club at the start of June and has taken 66 wickets in the six championship matches in which he has bowled.

He has not had the same impact at one-day level, but Lancashire hope that he can inspire them in the vital triple-decker against Gloucester and the Yorkies.

Murali has to return to Sri Lanka for a triangular one-day tournament with Australia and India. He then takes on the Aussies in a Test series.

"That is the big one for me," he said. "Not because of what happened in Australia last winter, but simply because they are the number one team and I want to help us beat them."

Murali has signed a two year deal with Lancashire on condition that international commitments allow him to play at least 10 championship matches each season.

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