RICHARD EARLE, CRICKET WRITER

SRI Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has called for racist and unruly fans to be ejected from Australian venues this summer to protect the fabric of the game.

Muralitharan revealed he had never been subjected to racial abuse by Australian crowds but supports tough measures to weed out trouble-makers.

The spin king said cricket authorities must act to avert a repeat of the racist behaviour that "good friend" Andrew Symonds experienced on Australia's recent one-day tour of India.

"Whatever happened in India, those things shouldn't happen. People should come along and have fun rather than make personal remarks," said Muralitharan, after taking 1/87 in 30 overs against the CA XI at Adelaide Oval yesterday.

"In Sri Lanka, they won't have a problem like that, they come and enjoy. If you lose they will congratulate the other team."

Asked if Cricket Australia should eject fans guilty of aggressive or racist behaviour seen during the seventh Future Cup clash at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, Muralitharan said: "Yeah. It is not good because you come to the cricket to enjoy the sixes and fours."

Muralitharan said he had been pelted with bottles and junk at the SCG while playing for the ICC XI in the one-off Super Test against Australia in October 2005.

However, he rates racial insults a much greater blight on the game than crowds "calling" him for no-balls or throwing projectiles onto the playing arena.

"Racial insults are bad, you shouldn't say it. No matter what race you come from you can't change it," said Muralitharan, impressive though unfortunate not to grab more scalps in his first major outing since tearing a bicep playing for Lancashire against Kent in August.

"No-balling (chants), people can say whatever they like. That is their opinion. If they use the filth word before the no-ball chant then that is bad."

Muralitharan backed CA "to know what to do should there be a repeat of the bottle throwing" incident and said he did not require specific security methods to secure his safety.

Murali thanked Symonds and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting for urging Australian fans to act gratiously towards him - if and when he overtook Shane Warne's record (708) for most Test wickets here.

"I am pleased they said that. Andrew Symonds is a very good friend of mine," said Muralitharan.

Muralitharan last toured here with Sri Lanka in early 2006 for the VB Series but is hoping his mental strength affords him greater success in just his fourth Test in Australian soil at the Gabba from November 8.

"Mentally I am very strong, stronger than most people," he said.

Former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga had advised Murali not to tempt fate by touring Australia, saying: "I told him I wished he wasn't touring Australia because of the trouble he has had."

It was at this tranquil venue during a one-day game against England in January 1999 that veteran umpire Ross Emerson no-balled Muralitharan and - engulfed the spinner in another "chucking" furore.

However, Murali is focused on helping Sri Lanka win its first Test series in Australia. The retirements of gun duo Glenn McGrath and Warne has left Australia vulnerable to challenge.

"It is our best chance because you won't see Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvin Atapattu, me or a few other playing in a couple of years. It won't be easy so we will have to do something special to beat them," he said.

The CA XI was forced to contend with the world's greatest spinner, gusty conditions and several rain interruptions in reply to Sri Lanka's 6/368 (dec) in 96.2 overs.

Lloyd Mash (95) fell short of a deserved ton while Tom Plant (63 not out) and skipper Luke Ronchi (0 not out) had taken CA XI to 4/262 in 81 overs at stumps. It was a typically placid Adelaide Oval pitch but Murali unveiled enough of gallery of tricks to suggest he will again be a threat come the first Test. The veteran tweaker will sit out the tour match at Allan Border Field starting next Friday mindful of "not over bowling" in his return from injury.

Farveez Maharoof dropped a sitter off Muralitharan at deep backward square leg when opener Mash was on 72 and the CA XI 1/129.

Regardless, Murali mesmerised CA XI opener Greg Moller (33) when introduced in the 14th over. Bat didn't met ball until the final delivery of the off-spinner's first over.

Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss confirmed batsman Kumar Sangakkara was in doubt for the first Test with a left hamstring strain.