Lasith Malinga not included in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 team to tour England: Cricket News
The Sri Lanka squad that is to tour England has been announced with the notable exclusion of star bowler, Lasith Malinga, who has ruled himself unfit for international duty but is available for selection for his IPL side.
Duleep Mendis, who is the chairman of the Sri Lankan selection panel, revealed that the low arm action bowler Malinga had personally requested that his name not be on the roster for the test squad to play against England.
Malinga was of the opinion that the T20 format of the game was not as physically demanding of him as a bowler as compared to the five day test match format. His justification however, did not convince Mendis as much as he would have liked.
Mendis said, “When a player says he is injured we want him to undergo a rehabilitation program immediately without playing cricket.”
Instead of the rehabilitation Malinga will be involved in a month long tournament that will see him play 14 matches for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 Indians in the IPL.
Malinga’s absence in the squad will be noted, as he was the Sri Lankan side’s main attack bowler, but it has opened the door for a number of Sri Lankan players to make their test debut.
The likes of Lahiru Thirimanne, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dinesh-c54134 Chandimal, Thisara Perera and Nuwan Pradeep have all received call-ups to the squad and will look to make their test match debuts against England on the opponent’s home turf.
From the four players freshly called-up Nuwan Pradeep seems a direct replacement for Malinga as they both share a similar low arm bowling action. The Sri Lankan youngster’s deliveries can also find the 140km/h range on a regular basis, and could prove to
be a potential weapon against the English side.
The Sri Lankan side will also be without their talisman on English pitches, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Muttiah-Muralitharan-c78157. The legendary spin bowler’s retirement from the international stage is still in effect as his side will most surely miss the players' ability to get the most
out of the pitches in England.
Angelo Mathews will be another key player, whose name will not be on the team sheet as the Sri Lankan all-rounder is still recovering from an injury.
In the end the Sri Lankan side have a somewhat new look with a blend of youth and experience. Newly appointed captain, Tillakaratne Dilshan, will be looking to make the most of the 16 man squad made available to him as he sets his sight on a first series
win when his relatively young side tours England.
Squad in full: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajantha-c42419 Mendis, Rangana Herath,
Suranga Lakmal, Dilhara Fernando, Thilan Samaraweera, Nuwan Pradeep and Tharanga Paranavitana,.
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