Lasith Malinga: Sri Lanka’s wicket taking pacer
Lasith Malinga is the spearhead of the Sri Lankan bowling attack with a round-arm action or sling action. He has the remarkable ability to restrict the batsmen and take wickets when the team really needs them. Malinga’s unique bowling style is feared by many who have tried to play him at the crease. He bowls sharp bouncers which are difficult to recognise due to the round-arm action and also bowls precarious in-swinging yorkers which can confuse any of the top players. Sri Lanka will be counting on his wicket taking contribution as they look to perform at the ICC World Cup 2011.
The pacer is considered as the fastest bowler in Sri Lanka and has the ability to swing both, new and old balls. He had been suffering from a series of injuries over the past few years but he still struggled to maintain his bowling form and set a good pace in the range of 140kph.
Malinga took an eye catching bowling start when he picked six wickets for 90 against a Northern Territory Chief Minister’s XI. Following his brilliant bowling start he was called into the Sri Lankan Test team where he made his debut in 2004 by dismissing Darren Lehman and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adam-Gilchrist-c918 in the same over. After that he became the Sri Lanka’s fastest Test bowler and a regular player of both their Test and One Day International matches. He earned the reputation of being a difficult bowler for the batsmen with his vigorous pace and bouncer.
The 27-year-old has featured in 30 Tests during his cricketing career so far and has claimed 101 wickets at an average of 33.15. He made his best bowling innings of 5 for 50 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in 2010. Malinga made his mark in the Test cricket in their 2006-07 tour of New Zealand when he dismissed their top order batsmen and helped his side to draw the Test series.
Malinga made his ODI debut in 2004 in Sri Lanka’s tie with the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 in 2004-05 when his low sling made the batsmen puzzled and they asked the umpires to change the colour of their trousers so that they could see the ball coming from Malinga’s hand.
His place in Sri Lanka’s team as an all-rounder was confirmed when he showed a marvelous performance as a leading wicket-taker in one-day series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749. He maintained his form in the Champions Trophy and during New Zealand tour where he excelled by dropping many top batsmen by his Yorkers.
He became the only bowler to claim four consecutive wickets in four balls in a One Day International. The achievement was seen during http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in the ICC World Cup 2007. He ended the tournament with 18 wickets at an average of 15.77 despite missing some matches of the tournament owing to his ankle injury.
Malinga has played 77 ODI’s and has taken 114 wickets in his tremendous career. If he continues his brilliant bowling, Malinga will surely break many bowling records in the near future.
Sri Lanka’s team will be looking at Malinga to take wickets on regular intervals during the ICC World Cup 2011. It is crucial for them that he is in full physical fitness and that his bowling pace and accuracy are right on. Sri Lanka will be looking to have a good tournament in front of their home fans, as Malinga uses his speed and skill to rattle some of the world’s top batsman. His amazing ability to restrict the batsman and take wickets will be required, as Sri Lanka look to take the World Cup trophy.
Tags: