Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga has said star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan should make good of his threat to not tour Australia again because of repeated abuse from Aussies crowds.
"If this is the reception he's getting, there's no point in going there over and over again," Ranatunga said.
Muralitharan revealed in his regular column on the website Bigstarcricket.com that he is seriously considering reinstating the touring boycott he placed on Australia several years ago.
The 33-year-old off spinner initially placed the touring ban on Australia after being labeled a 'chucker' but changed his mind following the tsunami charity matches last year.
"This may yet be the last time I play in Australia," Muralitharan wrote. "I have said before that I will never play here again and I reversed my decision because I saw a change in people's attitudes during the tsunami relief games last year."
"But I'm sorry to say the abuse I have received on this tour has been the same or as bad as the others. I'm still not sure whether I will come back and play again in Australia."
During the first one-day international final in Adelaide, sections of the crowd started yelling 'no-ball' as Muralitharan came into bowl.
Add to that the current complaints by both the Sri Lanka and South African touring parties of repeated racial abuse from Australian crowds and it is enough for the star spinner to consider re-imposing his touring ban.
"If I had been the captain or manager I would have asked Murali to pack his bags and go home and take some rest as there is a limit to everything," Ranatunga said. "If the Australians can't respect good cricket they don't deserve to see the best in action."
Muralitharan, who was a match-winner in the first VB Series final, but was clobbered for a career worst 0-99 in Sunday's second final at the Sydney Cricket Ground said he would consult family and friends before he made his decision.
