The West Indies are in Sri Lanka to play two Tests and a triangular one-day series also featuring India, without key batsmen Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle after a contracts row with their cricket board.

"Bowling to Brian is always a big challenge," said Muralitharan, 33, who is set to play his first Test after an 11-month layoff due to shoulder injury.

"But unfortunately, he is not in this squad as they (the West Indies) have got some internal problems."

Lara was the lone batsman to tame Muralitharan in his own backyard when the West Indies toured Sri Lanka in 2001, aggregating an astonishing 688 runs in three Tests with three centuries.

"He batted extremely well against me when they were here last time, but don't forget we still completed a 3-0 sweep," said Muralitharan, who played a big role in his team's victories with 24 wickets in the series.

The Sri Lankan is the second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 532 scalps in 91 matches, behind only Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne (583 wickets in 123 Tests).

Despite the West Indian's amazing run-spree against Sri Lanka, Muralitharan was unsure if Lara was the best batsman he had bowled to.

"Brian batted well and scored a lot of runs against me in the last series here. When someone scores so many runs he has got to be very good," said Muralitharan.

"But I have not bowled to (India's) Sachin Tendulkar in the last seven or eight years in a Test match which is really disappointing."

Muralitharan has not bowled to Tendulkar in a Test match since 1998. When the two nations played a Test series in Sri Lanka four years ago, Tendulkar was not available due to injury.

The Sri Lankan spinner was eagerly looking forward to playing his first Test series in nearly a year, saying he was in good form after taking 36 wickets in six matches for Lancashire in the English county championship this season.

"I have not played a Test for almost a year now and I am looking forward to the challenge," said the spinner, whose last Test was at home against South Africa in August 2004.

"I did well for Lancashire, getting plenty of wickets in the county championship and one-day matches. They want me to come back again and play for more seasons, but we have to see how it goes."

The first Test of the West Indies series starts at the Sinhalese sports club here on July 13. The second will be played in the hill resort of Kandy from July 21.

This will be followed by the one-day tri-series with India from July 30 to August 9.