Lasith Malinga reminded the world of just how destructive a bowler he can be recording the second best Twenty20 figures ever in the Melbourne Stars’ win over the Perth Scorchers, but he’s content that Sri Lanka’s Test team is better off without him.
The Sri Lankan speedster with the unique action bowled an incredible four overs for the Stars in their 10-wicket victory at the WACA on Wednesday finishing with figures of 6-7 to help bowl out the Scorchers for the lowest ever Australian domestic T20 score, 69.
The Stars then made 0-29 from 2.1 overs to win under the Duckworth-Lewis system with rain delaying play in Perth for over an hour, but it was Malinga’s spell of phenomenal quick, and varied, bowling that left the Perth batsmen with no hope of survival.
His 6-7 is the second best spell of bowling in Twenty20 cricket at first-class level in the world, only bettered by Arul Suppiah’s 6-5 for Somerset against Glamorgan in July 2011 and it knocks off Michael Dighton’s 6-25 as the best figures in Australian T20 cricket.
Malinga is currently ranked as the world’s No. 15 Twenty20 bowler but showed on Wednesday that he very well should be the highest-ranked.
However, even though his fellow Sri Lankans are currently in Hobart preparing for the First Test starting Friday against Australia, he has no intentions on going back on his retirement from the long form of the game.
He last played a Test for Sri Lanka against India in August 2010, and while he won’t be there against Australia, he’s confident the Sri Lankans can do well.
‘Sri Lanka are a good side and a fighting side, and they will give it a good fight but the Aussies are a good side as well,’ Malinga said.
‘I think they can (win the series). Most of the time the best team wins in Test match cricket, but they will give it a good fight.
‘The thing is that I’m retired already and I have concentrated on T20 and ODI, and that’s it. We have good young bowlers in the side now and the best option to Sri Lanka is to introduce new fast bowlers.’
As for the side Malinga, Shane Warne (1-9 from three overs) and the Stars beat on Wednesday, the Scorchers have some soul searching to do after two disappointing home losses to the Strikers and now the Stars.
Captain Simon Katich is trying to remain positive, though, and is looking forward to welcoming South African Alfonso Thomas and potentially welcoming back Shaun Marsh for this Sunday’s clash in Sydney against defending champions the Sixers.
‘You have to try to move on quickly. It’s one of those things in Twenty20 where someone has a day out to put you on the back foot, and the way things panned out the game ended up almost in a farce really,’ Katich said.
‘There’s no doubt that we have a road trip going to Sydney and Brisbane, but having him (Thomas) on board is a huge bonus with his experience and the role he will play in our team. We will possibly get Shaun back from injury as well and that’s a big confidence boost.’
