World record Test wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan withdrew from Sri Lanka's tour of Australia on Tuesday following criticism of his action.

"Muralitharan handed over a letter to the Board president Mohan de Silva this morning, which said he would be unavailable for personal reasons," Sri Lanka Cricket Board media manager Ray Illangakoon told Reuters.

The controversial and unorthodox off spinner had been considering whether to pull out of the two-Test trip starting this month after fresh doubts over his bowling culminated in Australian Prime Minister John Howard calling him a "chucker".

Muralitharan was called for throwing on two previous visits to Australia, leading to lasting resentment between the two teams.

His decision to avoid the risk of a repeat means the series will be deprived of the two most successful spinners in history. Australia leg spinner Shane Warne is also set to miss the July Tests in Darwin and Cairns because of a broken hand.

"It's obviously very disappointing," Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland told a news conference in Melbourne.

MAIN DRAWCARDS

"In the last week we may have lost two of the main drawcards, with Shane's injury and now Murali making this announcement.

"There's still a few weeks between now and the series starting. So perhaps where there is light or there is time, there is hope.

"But he's obviously been thinking about it for a while and he's come to this decision. I don't think there's a lot really we can do."

Sutherland added: "I don't know the personal reasons for which he's withdrawn.

"But he's made a decision and we respect that. He knows full well that Cricket Australia and the Australian players were very keen for him to come."

In a statement later the Sri Lanka Board said it had not been surprised to learn Muralitharan did not want to tour Australia.

"Murali is undergoing tremendous pressure," the statement said. "The Executive Committee, at its emergency meeting held today...felt that it was their responsibility to safeguard Murali's career in the larger interest of Murali as well as Sri Lanka.

"The Committee was of the view that Murali needed a short break from cricket."

Muralitharan, with 527 wickets in 90 Tests, was reported to the International Cricket Council by match referee Chris Broad during Sri Lanka's home series against Australia in March. Broad was concerned about his 'doosra', a leg break variation.

Biomechanical tests at the University of Western Australia showed the 32-year-old's arm straightened during delivery and he was told to stop bowling it.

Previous tests on his normal action, however, have backed Sri Lankan claims that it is legal. The issue is further confused since the bowler cannot fully straighten his arm due to a birth defect.

AUSTRALIA PLOT

Some Sri Lankan officials have previously suggested the throwing allegations are an Australian plot, although former players from several countries have also expressed doubts. Ex-India spinner Bishen Bedi once said Muralitharan looked more like a javelin thrower.

Muralitharan, a prodigious spinner of the ball, was repeatedly called for throwing by Australian umpires during tours in 1995-6 and 1998-99. On one occasion the Sri Lankans marched off the field in protest.

Muralitharan played in Sri Lanka's test series victory in Zimbabwe last month, taking 14 wickets to pass Courtney Walsh's world record of 519.

He has expressed bitterness over the doubts surrounding his bowling.

"My action is unorthodox," Muralitharan said. "It is, however, wrong for people to label me as a chucker based solely on what they see with the naked eye.

"What such people perceive as a throw is an optical illusion, a fact proven by the tests carried out on my bowling action over the years."

Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist was formally reprimanded in 2002 by his board after making remarks about Muralitharan's bowling action. Top Australian umpire Darrell Hair, meanwhile, called the action "diabolical" in his autobiography.

Sri Lanka begin their tour with a warm-up game against a Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI on June 24 before Tests in Darwin and Cairns.

Muralitharan is expected to return for the six-team Asia Cup in Sri Lanka immediately after the tour of Australia.