Muttiah Muralitharan is preparing Nathan Lyon for delivering the 'Carrom Ball'

Nathan Lyon, the Australian off-spinner is “excited” to work with Muttiah Muralitharan

The Sri Lankan spin great Muttiah Muralitharan is straightaway into business in helping Nathan Lyon with the ‘carrom ball’ after he joined Australia as a bowling coach.

"The doosra is very difficult to teach because he's a finger spinner and I'm a wrist spinner. We're trying something else - the carrom ball. I think he'd be ready and bowl that in the UAE, but he'll master it in years to come," said the 42-year old.

On preparing a spinner for Australia, where fast-bowlers rule cricket, Muralitharan was optimistic about the success of Nathan Lyon whom he picks as the best in the country.

"For a country like Australia, you don't need many spinners. You need to get the right one. I think Nathan Lyon is the answer - for any format. He spins the ball and he's confident and he has taken more than 100 wickets in Test cricket. He's proved himself,” he said about Lyon.

Lyon and James Muirhead, the leg-spinner are currently in Sri Lanka involved in training schedules with the Sri Lankan master of spin. Lyon has mentioned that he is “very excited to get out there and bowl with Murali.” He also expressed his commitment in “trying out few things and hopefully develop my(his) game”.

Australian team physio Alex Kountouris acted as the link between Australian board and Muralitharan as the two are well known friends. Australia after receiving a 4-0 drubbing to India last season and inability in rectifying their persistent problems with handling the doosra in asian conditions have forced the team management to make some quick and effective measures to overturn their fortunes against Pakistan in UAE later in the year.

The wrist spinner will be helping the Australian batsmen with tips and will also be bowling at them in the net sessions to make sure that they face Saeed Ajmal without any difficulties.

Muralidaran also mentioned that Australia is not a place he hates after some media persons and famous personalities questioning his bowling action openly.

"I don't have any hard feelings because of what has happened. That ... (was) all about individuals only that shouted at me - that is a different case. The Australian public was always kind to me - maybe five per cent were against me. I didn't have any hatred on anybody," said Muralitharan.