The Sri Lankan spearhead with the unusual slinging action who has turned into one of the world’s most fearsome bowlers was held under the mic by ThePapare team recently.
Lasith Malinga who had to take the side-lines for a while due to injury, revealed to us the process of his recovery and spoke about his availability for selection to the national team. He also shared his insights on what the composition of the national team should be.
Malinga made his debut way back in 2004 and since has gone to play 30 Tests, 191 One Day Internationals and 62 T20 internationals and has picked up 470 International wickets for Sri lanka.
The list of accolades and achievements under the name of the curly haired slinger are endless. The only bowler with 4 wickets in 4 balls, the first and to date only bowler in cricketing history to take three hat-tricks in One Day International cricket and rather out of character the highest 9th wicket partnership (132 runs) along with Angelo Matthews,
To our delight, the media-shy icon readily took a moment off to talk to ThePapare.com.
Missing cricket for nearly one year Lasith Malinga said “it has been one year since the leg injury and I just began to run after a year or so” It is still uncertain of a return date for the experienced fast bowler but he hopes he will be back in action sooner rather than later “It will take me a few more months to get back into my usual bowling rhythm but I it is still uncertain about what will happen after that”
To our query he stated that he was uncertain how long more he expects to play and is not sure what team he would represent “I expect to play for two, two and half years more, it maybe for the national team or any other team I don’t know but I still want to play cricket”
Malinga last played for Sri Lanka in February 2016 in the Asia cup T20 tournament where he bowled UAE away but was never fit to make the Sri Lankan squad afterwards. In the match against UAE Malinga picked 4 for 26 which was his 12th T20 four-for.
Reports suggested that Lasith Malinga declared himself fit for selection in T.M Dilshan’s final International match against Australia, a T20 international which was played at R. Premadasa stadium on the 9th of September but was controversially not included in the starting XI.
In the recently concluded contract handing over ceremony Lasith Malinga had declined the National contract. To this he responded that “Yes, I was informed that I was going to be handed the National contract but I was not interested in taking it” He explained that the reason behind the decision not to take the contract was because his match fitness was inadequate. “because I am not in good condition to receive a contract and also if I took it, it would have been an injustice to other players”
The mercurial pacie made a case about his lineage and reasons for many injury plagued fast bowlers in Sri Lanka. “We could all complain that they break down with injuries due trainers not been good enough but the way I see it, weather conditions, heat and not recovering sufficiently all plays a part in it”
Malinga spoke most fervently about the facilities around Kettharama stadium and how the facilities impact recovery for players “we have all our sessions at Kettharama and if we can get a swimming pool it would aid all the players in the recovery process”
When questioned about where the national team should be in the years to come he said “Every team should possess International stars” he also added that in a squad of 15 there should be a minimum of 12 or 13 players who are at the International standard and few others who are national level players “Be it the IPL or the Big Bash League, we should develop players who are at a standard in which they can represent those tournaments. That way we will be able to build a national team with a good standard and to do a virtuous service to our country.”
“Many would disagree with me regarding this, however, for anyone who watches cricket with a tactical and logical sense of mind and for people who don’t judge a book by its cover will certainly see my point behind this argument”
We were eager to press him for a return date when we will be able to see Malinga spearheading our bowling line-up again. He said “I am hoping to come back in the T20 against South Africa. It will be difficult for me to play an ODI at first due to been out of the game for so long but after playing T20’s against South Africa and Australia I should be able to make an ODI comeback in the Champions Trophy in England”
