Ranatunga was a very angry man at the treatment meted out to the off spinner by the unsporty Aussie spectators who boo and jeer wherever he plays.
The skipper was sorry that the ultimate losers would be the younger generation of bowlers in Australia who would not be able to watch this rare off spinner in action and learn from him.
The last time we played here we had the backing of the public who supported us and sympathised with the treatment meted out to the spinner. But this time round it is different. I am very disappointed, said Ranatunga.
The Australian Cricket Board is at the moment having talks with its counterpart in Sri Lanka for the Lankans to play in the home one-day series in two years time. And it is likely that Muralitharan will not want to tour and be humiliated.
Ranatunga reiterated that it is only in Australia that the off spinner is targeted. 'In all other countries that he plays he go through without any hassle', said Ranatunga who is disappointed that he can't get his game plans working because of the unfortunate injury to star player and vice captain Aravinda de Silva.
:Aravinda set to play on Saturday
If the ease in which he is batting at the nets is an indication, then Aravinda de Silva is set to have his first bash in Adelaide in the Carlton and United Series against England on Saturday.
He had a long work out at the nets against pacemen Ruchira Perera, Suresh Perera and off spinner Thilan Samaraweera and his twinkle-toed footwork was working right and his strokes were all there.
'The discomfort is when I try to run a quick single. But I am sure everything will finally work out well', said de Silva who is determined to play and help raise the spirits of his teammates who are struggling at the moment, having lost three games in a row at the time of writing.
Daryl Foster, the former Victorian cricketer who played in the company of Australian cricketers Bill Lawry and Ian Redpath, and who is assisting the Lankans, is convinced that there is no need to press the panic button although the team has lost three games.
'The absence of Aravinda de Silva is a big blow. No side could afford to lose a player of the calibre of de Silva. Hopefully when de Silva returns, the pieces will fall into place' said Foster who had coached English county Kent when Aravinda was playing.