Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan hinted he may retire next year, Australia's Herald-Sun newspaper reported on Friday.

The newspaper quoted the 33-year-old Muralitharan saying the impending birth of his first child and the wear and tear of 14 years of international cricket had caused him to re-think his future.

Muralitharan, currently in Australia for the triangular one-day series with Ricky Ponting's world champions and South Africa, said he would play through at least until the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies then make a decision.

"I will play until 2007, then keep an open mind about whether to play or not," he said.

"I have got married. In another 10 days time, I will get a baby boy. I am looking forward to that. I have enjoyed my cricket for 15, 16 years. Now I have my family life."

Muralitharan broke Courtney Walsh's world record for the most Test wickets in 2004 but has since been overtaken by Shane Warne after being sidelined for most of last year.

Muralitharan has 584 Test wickets to Warne's 659 but is three years younger than the Australian and takes his wickets at a faster rate. However, Muralitharan said regaining the record meant nothing to him.

"I had the record. I had my moments," he said. "Fifteen, 20 years time, somebody will come along and take 1000 wickets. Records are nothing."