Ricky Ponting said on Monday he would love to see Muttiah Muralitharan tour with Sri Lanka in July, despite the off spinner's concern about returning to Australia.

"I'd love to see him here. He's a fantastic player and opponent and he's a great competitor," Australia captain Ponting told a news conference at Sydney airport.

"I'm sure the Australian public would love to see him here."

Australia crowds have previously taunted Muralitharan over his controversial bowling action.

"Let's hope he tours. It would be a great challenge for us if he does because he's a very, very good bowler," Ponting added.

Muralitharan, the world record Test wicket-taker, has expressed doubts about whether he would join the two-Test tour because of comments made by Australia Prime Minister John Howard labelling the Sri Lankan a "chucker".

Muralitharan suggested he would boycott the tour after Howard made the comments in the wake of the International Cricket Council's decision that the off spinner's doosra delivery, which breaks away from right-handed batsmen, falls foul of its regulations on throwing.

Australia beat the home side 3-0 in their Test series in March in Sri Lanka.

A decision by the 32-year-old slow bowler to stay home would rob promoters of one of the game's biggest draws. It would also boost the chances of Australia leg spinner Shane Warne becoming the new Test wicket world record holder.

Warne, 34, is on 517 wickets, 10 behind his Sri Lanka rival.

Australia will host a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Darwin and Cairns in July.

ZIMBABWE DEFENCE

Ponting also defended Australia's decision to proceed with their three one-day matches in Zimbabwe after the two-Test series had been called off.

"I've got no doubt it was the right decision to tour Zimbabwe," Ponting said.

"We went there to do our job, which is to play cricket.

"We didn't get involved in anything political but that's not saying we turned a blind eye."

Zimbabwe have been forced to pick a second-string team since last month when 15 white players including former captain Heath Streak made themselves unavailable over what they see as racially driven selection policies.

The African side lost five one-day internationals and two Test matches against Sri Lanka and then suffered three defeats in one-day series against Australia which finished on Saturday.

Two scheduled Tests against Australia were called off because of Zimbabwe's problems in fielding a Test-strength side.

Ponting said his players had been enthusiastic throughout the series despite the large gap between the world champions and the home side.

The ICC, the game's world governing body, will discuss Zimbabwe's Test status at a meeting on June 27.