Sri Lanka needs Lasith Malinga in Tests – Opinion
Since clinching the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 performed exceptionally well all around the world, qualifying for two consecutive World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011, apart from finishing as runner-ups in a couple of World T20s in 2009 and 2012.
Over the last decade and a half, the Lankans delivered the goods in Test cricket as well, especially in home conditions. However, they banked heavily on the individual brilliance of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Chaminda-Vaas-c1223, as the duo grabbed 1155 Test wickets between them, helping their side compete against the best in the business.
After the retirement of the two legendary cricketers, the Sri Lankan side has struggled to deliver the goods in the five-day format, as they have won just a single Test series over the last two years.
To make matters worse for the Islanders, one of the most deadly fast bowlers produced by the country, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540, stopped playing Test cricket in 2010, further weakening an already thin bowling attack.
The cricketer from Galle, having caught the attention of the selectors at the domestic level, made his way to the international sport in 2004 and immediately cemented his place in the national side. The speedster has a very unique round-arm bowling action, which makes it extremely hard for the batsmen to judge the length of Malinga’s deliveries, which is the primary reason why his Yorkers and slower deliveries are immensely hard to cope with.
However, the 29-year-old cricketer has had a career full of knee and back injuries so far, which made him quit playing the longer version of the sport and focus merely on the limited-over versions at the global level as well as franchise cricket.
The Lankan bowling attack is currently struggling to make an impression in the on-going tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, having conceded more than 700 runs in the first Test at Hobart, allowing the home team’s batsmen to run away with the show.
A number of former cricketers and sporting analysts have been urging Malinga to return to Test cricket in order to bolster the team’s bowling line-up, but the fast bowler feels that his fitness does not allow him to bowl long spells.
He said, “I'm 29 now. I think I will only have three or four more years to play. I think going back to Tests now would be very difficult. I've been away from Tests for two years. I think it's much better for the team if a new bowler comes through.”
Malinga is presently trying to prolong the length of his international career by taking part in the shorter formats of the game only.
“I just want to play as well as I can when I can do it, and one day be able to reflect on the number of wickets I've taken for my country, and the number of wins I've been able to deliver,” Malinga added.
There is no doubt that the speedster’s fitness is vulnerable and he cannot play all the international matches for his country; however, Malinga can pick and choose matches of all formats of the game. If the fast bowler can sacrifice some franchise cricket, he can surely take part in important Test matches as well for his country, which is in dire need of a strike bowler.
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