LONDON, May 1: Australian left-hander Travis Birt is tipping Sri Lankan paceman Lasith Malinga to give England almost as many problems as spin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan in the upcoming three-Test series.

Birt had the upper hand on both Malinga and Muralitharan as he hammered the tourists for a quick-fire 83 for Derbyshire on the second day of their three-day match on Sunday, helping the county rack up a second innings total of 208-4.

But he had gone cheaply to Malinga in the first innings and admitted: “He's a difficult character to deal with.

“No-one has seen a lot of him, and he could surprise a lot of batsmen first up,” the Australian said.

“But it's like any first-time bowler; the more you get in, the more you feel comfortable facing him. He's taken 50 Test wickets in his 15 Tests so far, so obviously he can bowl a bit.”

Birt did not pay much respect to Muralitharan, taking two fours and a six from the first three balls he faced from the spinner, but he still expects him to give England serious problems.

“Obviously he is a great bowler and he is still going to take a lot of Test wickets,” Birt warned.

England are due to play three Tests, starting at Lord’s next week, and five One-day Internationals against Sri Lanka. —AFP