SHANE Warne has been passed fit to play in Australia's two Test series against Sri Lanka next month.

Hampshire captain Warne, who broke the fifth metacarpal bone in his left hand while batting against Essex two weeks ago, is now set to play against the Sri Lankans on July 1 in Darwin and in Cairns on July 9.

He said: "I will be fine to play. I had an X-ray and the doctor is very happy.

"The hand will be sore for a while and I will probably have a bit of discomfort but it will not stop me from performing my usual duties."

Warne could return to Hampshire in three weeks' time as the leading wicket taker in the history of Test cricket as he is only ten behind Muttiah Muralitharan's haul of 527 - and the Sri Lankan off spinner has pulled out of the tour.

He added: "I don't play for records, I never really have.

"But if you get the opportunity to break the world record it's a carrot that's dangling for two Test matches and that's pretty exciting.

"Hopefully I can get a few wickets and if I can break that world record that would be great.

"But I might have to try to jump on this opportunity for the next couple of matches as Murali is probably going to play for another five or six years.

"And if he keeps taking 70 or 80 wickets a year, he's going to be pretty close to a thousand. I don't think I'll get anywhere near a thousand."

Warne is expected to return to Southampton in time to play in the latter stages of the Twenty20 Cup in mid-July.