Atapattu rallies Sri Lanka

We can show gratitude towards him by performing well Marvan Atapattu

Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu said it would be "difficult and unusual" to face Australia in two Tests without Muttiah Muralitharan in the side.

The tourists landed in Darwin on Sunday - venue of the first Test on 1 July, with the second match in Cairns.

Muralitharan pulled out of the tour angry at criticism of his controversial bowling action.

Atapattu said: "I'd love to have him here but he's made a personal decision and we have to wear it."

The Sri Lankan captain needs his other bowlers, who regularly under-achieve, to step into the aching void left by Murali.

"When we are on the field he takes most of the burden, bowling 40 to 50 overs in an innings," said Atapattu.

"The whole team will miss him. But it is a big challenge for every one of us to come out with better performances.

"This is one occasion where we can show gratitude towards him by performing well."

We can put Australia under enormous pressure John Dyson Sri Lanka coach

Muralitharan, who has been called for throwing on two previous visits to Australia, withdrew last week following an investigation into his bowling action.

He was furious when Australian Prime Minister John Howard called him a "chucker"

The 32-year-old is the most successful bowler in history, with 527 Test wickets.

His nearest rival, Australian Shane Warne, trails him by 10 wickets. Warne is doubtful for July's two-Test series because of a broken bone in his hand.

Sri Lanka coach John Dyson, an Australian, said: "We can put Australia under enormous pressure.

"While they won the series in Sri Lanka 3-0, in every one of the those games they were under pressure and had to do something special to pull out of it."

Sri Lanka's opening tour match against a Northern Territory XI in Darwin starts on 24 June.