The question "Should Murali tour Australia?" is being asked by the Sunday Times here in an opinion poll on the spinner's spat with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who called the Sri Lankan a "chucker".

The issue is being discussed extensively in the press, with fans expressing solidarity with Muralitharan, who broke retired West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh's world record of 519 Test wickets in Zimbabwe last month.

Muralitharan, currently in England on a private tour, issued a two-page statement Friday on his controversial 'doosra' delivery and Howard's remarks calling him a chucker.

"I have been defamed, pilloried and severely criticised by the world's cricket media," Muralitharan said in the statement.

"Even the prime minister of Australia has called me a chucker and then in the next sentence says I will be welcome to tour his country."

But the spinner is yet to decide whether to play in Australia despite being named in a 16-member squad for a two-Test series.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting last week urged Muralitharan to tour Australia, saying local cricket fans would welcome him with open arms.

Muralitharan, with 527 Test wickets, was reported for his suspect action by English match-referee Chris Broad during a home Test series against Australia in March.

In contention was his 'doosra', a delivery that spins away from the right-handers.

Muralitharan faces a 12-month ban if he continues to bowl the 'doosra', deemed illegal by the sport's world governing body.