Fast bowler Lasith Malinga has not played for Sri Lanka since September last year.
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When Steve Waugh was dumped as ODI captain with less than 18 months to go for the World Cup, there was a hue and cry in Australia. Trevor Hohns, the Chairman of Selectors was a targeted man. Australia were the defending champions and Waugh is an iconic figure in Australian cricket. Comparatively, Hohns played less than a handful of Test matches for Australia. The Aussies embraced an aggressive youth policy for the shorter formats of the game overlooking the Waugh twins. Under new captain Ricky Ponting not only did they win the title in 2003, but secured back to back World Cups winning the 2007 edition as well beating Sri Lanka in the finals in Barbados.
Sri Lanka’s Chairman of Selectors Graeme Labrooy finds himself in the shoes of Hohns as he has attracted some criticism for his decision to snub fast bowler Lasith Malinga for the tri-nation Nidhas Trophy. Previously, Malinga was overlooked for the tours of UAE, India and Bangladesh and has not played any international cricket since September last year.
Lasith Malinga, the offspinner?
Due to bad light, ‘Slinga’ Lasith Malinga bowled captured 3 wickets bowling off-spin during the 25th Singer-MCA Premier.
It is not rocket science that Malinga’s best days are gone. The 34-year-old has lost both pace and accuracy and since returning to international cricket after a knee injury, he has been a pale shadow of his former self.
Although he has impressive figures in T-20 Internationals since his return from injury averaging 16, his average of 62 in ODI cricket makes sorry reading. You may ask that if his stats were good enough in T-20s, why Sri Lanka were not pursuing with him particularly him having done quite well for NCC in the ongoing domestic T-20 competition?
Although the Chairman of Selectors has attracted the criticism, you get a fair idea as to where the decision is coming from. Chandika Hathurusingha is very much a hands on coach and he is cleverly forming the nucleus that will make the Sri Lankan outfit for the 2019 World Cup. The Head Coach doesn’t seem to fancy that Malinga has it in him to last the distance of ten overs in ODI cricket. Furthermore, he will turn 36 during next year’s World Cup.
Of course the ball is on Malinga’s court. What he has been told is to go back to domestic cricket and prove his worth. People have a lot to learn from former Sri Lankan captain Hashan Tillakaratne. When Sidath Wettimuny’s national selection panel made sweeping changes after the disappointing 1999 World Cup, many others completely gave it all away with the most notable casualty being Roshan Mahanama, who ‘retired hurt’. But Hashan fought his way back into the side. Season after season he was the highest run scorer in domestic cricket for NCC and the selectors had no choice but to bite the bullet and recall Hashan two years after being sacked.
Sri Lankan Speedster Malinga to retire?
Sri Lanka speedster Lasith Malinga has hinted at possible retirement, saying that he is mentally done with international .
The gutty left-hander went onto become the first Sri Lankan to score a Test hundred in South Africa in 2002 after being recalled. Such was his form in red ball cricket that then Chairman of Selectors Guy de Alwis (bless him) named Hashan for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. Hashan had proved his detractors wrong. All what Malinga has to do is to borrow a leaf out of Hashan’s book and prove his doubters wrong.
The fact that Malinga was unsold during the recent IPL auction was a further blow for the fast bowler to revive his international career.
What Sanath Jayasuriya did in 2009 was sensational. He was dropped from the Sri Lankan side with the team rebuilding for the 2011 World Cup. However, he was in red hot form for Mumbai Indians in the 2009 edition of the IPL and on that form he was recalled for the Asia Cup that was played in Pakistan. The rest as they say is history with Sanath posting a match winning hundred in the Asia Cup final against India and Ajantha Mendis did the rest.
Malinga has not helped his case with his lack of enthusiasm for the tough fitness regime that was put in place once the team’s performances dipped last year. Furthermore, he is alleged to have been a disruptive element within the team and it is learnt that his presence is not welcomed by the senior group of players.
Despite all the negative things that are mentioned, the door should not be completely shut on Malinga. Every player needs to be given a fair chance and given his experience, Malinga still has a role to play in the side although he is no more the strike bowler that he used to be.
The fact remains that Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep have shown tremendous improvement over the last 12 months. Lakmal in particular has been impressive as a leader as well. He was named vice-captain during the Test series in Bangladesh and has been named deputy to Dinesh Chandimal again for the Nidhas Trophy.
The pace factor that Hathurusinghe has been stressing so much on is provided by the trio of Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka and Lahiru Kumara and things are falling back in place after a disastrous 2017.
Given their impressive showing in recent games in Bangladesh and with India sending a depleted side sans Virat Kohli, M.S. Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah, Sri Lanka should start as favourites of the tri-nation competition
