http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758’s former captain and opening batsman, Tillakaratne Dilshan, has admitted that the team’s bowling attack can be strengthened by Lasith Malinga’s return to Test cricket but he does not think that the fast bowler is going to return to the longer format of the game.
The 29-year-old pacer is considered to be one of the most threatening fast bowlers produced by the country. Malinga made his international debut in 2004 but has had a career full of knee and back injuries.
Having played just 30 Tests by 2010, the cricketer from Galle decided to quit taking part in the five-day version, restricting himself to the shorter formats of the game only. Apart from limited-over internationals, Malinga has been regularly playing franchise cricket all across the globe.
On the other side of the coin, the fast bowler’s retirement form Test cricket has weakened Sri Lanka’s bowling line-up, which was already in trouble since the departure of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Chaminda-Vaas-c1223.
In the recently-concluded first Test of the three-match series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 at Hobart, the Lankan bowlers conceded more than 700 runs in the match, failing to make an impression against a strong Aussie batting line-up.
Some of the sporting analysts believe that the Islanders should urge Malinga to return to Test cricket but the former captain does not see that happening and thinks that the speedster wants to preserve his energies for the limited-over sport.
“I don't think he is coming back to Test cricket,” he said. “He wants to concentrate on one-day international and Twenty20 cricket. He wants to be 100% in the shorter form of the game and that's why he made the decision to stop Test cricket.”
Dilshan knows that Malinga’s return can bolster his side’s thin bowling line-up, but he believes that the 29-year-old fast bowler is not going to reverse his decision.
“If he comes back, it would be good for the side. Everyone would be happy to see him back but I don't think he will change his mind,” Dilshan added.
The pacer, who is presently playing the Big Bash League in Australia, has also made it clear that his body does not allow him to play the longer format.
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