Malinga unsure of World Cup 2019 chance
If there was a possibility, Lasith Malinga enhanced his reputation as a death-bowling genius with a fine spell on Saturday against England. England, who were cruising at 190 for 3 in the 37th over, were restricted to 278 for 9, with Malinga’s 5 for 44 stopping the visitors from going for a final flourish. But more than enhancing his reputation, it was about giving the selectors, who had overlooked him a few months ago, a sound remainder that his skills were still potent.
Maybe the added weight and dropping fitness levels that became a bone of contentions with Angelo Mathews weren’t concerns when it came to the slingy pacer. Just like Mathews had reminded the team management of his impressive batting numbers recently in ODIs, Malinga did the same after his fifer. “500,” he claimed several times – a reminder of having reached the 500 international scalp landmark.
In four games since his return to the national side, Malinga has bagged 10 wickets. However, the pacer is still not sure of his place in the side for the next year’s world cup. “I feel that if I get the chance to play the World Cup, I will,” he said. “It will be my last World Cup. I’m not expecting to get the chance, given the kinds of things that have happened to me over the recent past. But I will take it if it is given.”
Malinga didn’t come back into the ODI side at the back of any 50-over performance. In fact, during the domestic provincial one-day tournament, he was busy offering his services as a bowling consultant to Mumbai Indians in the IPL. However, a reasonably good show in Canada’s Global T20 and the domestic T20 tournament, paved his way back to the national side.
“The selectors are entitled to make those decisions,” Malinga said. “I’m just a player. My only job is to play when I get the chance. When I was out of the team, I went and played in Canada. I also played the district competition and got the highest wickets. Thanks to those performances I got another chance at this level. Because I’m nearing the end of my career I’m motivated to get wickets.”
One of the prime reasons for Malinga’s downfall was his dropping pace. With pace not becoming a factor to worry, the change in pace and the corresponding variations were becoming easier for batsmen to pick and hit. Now he is slowly finding his way back from that, and came out clocking in excess of 140kmph several times during the game against England. More importantly, in a team that is struggling to win matches, he has been a rare shining light.
But so was Mathews.
(Cricbuzz)
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Malinga has definitely come back with a bang. I really don’t understand why Upul Tharanga is still in the team. He very inconsistent for a player who has been playing international cricket for 13 years. Apart from his batting his fielding is appalling.
Also this chopping and changing of batmen’s positions does not seem to work. Can some one tell me if they know exactly what is going on with our cricketers. Are they serious about representing their country or are they just playing for the money and that comes with the job???. Because it just seems like our batsmen are playing Gudu at the moment.
I do not why mediua continue to support Angelo Matthews? Malinga was axed because he was outspoken about Pich Fixing. Particularly in a match against India in SSC the curator didn’t produce the pitch with more grass to SL Team (especially for Malinga). The pitch produced didn’t have grass (or cut to 1 C.M). When questions the curator gave an absurd answer that he mistakenly used wrong blades! Malinga aired that in a meeting and that was it! It is not only attributed to his age and fitness. 70% fit Maliga is better than other fast bowlers in present SL squad. Malinga is a fighter and still other cricketers respect him. See the comments of England star batsmen. He said it was Malinga who stopped them going beyond 300!
Goodbye Malinga,
Thank God we have the last of you.
Go to IPL for your millions, my dear.
Why not silect Ajantha Mendis for the following reasons
By my letter dated 9/09/2014 to Hon Sports Minister Aluthgamage in which I stated among other matters Why was Spinner Ajantha Mendis dropped for the finals of Asia cup and Spinner Senanayake retained I stated that Adjantha Mendis who before the finals of the last Asia Cup 2014 was the highest wicket taker in Asia cup 2014 with 9 wickets in only 3 matches with a fantastic strike rate of a wicket for every 17 balls left out of the final compared with , Lasith Malinga 6 wicket and spinner Senanayake the selectors 1st Choice spinner with only 4 wickets and a strike rate of 57 three time more than Ajantha Mendis, retained for the finals would not Ajantha Mendis be completely demoralized as in the last 50/50 world cup finals in 2011 he was left out in the finals while having a strike rate very close to Murali and a economic rate the least in the whole world cup of 3.3 to Murali’s 4.11 supporting statistics from crick Info and we lost the cup and there has been no explanation as to the reason he was left out. The then captain Sanga Resigned . I stated that in the 2014 Asia cup omission in the finals also with no logical explanation but most probably would have miss Adjantha Mendis from getting the man of the series as he would have had to obtain only 3 wickets more to retain his fantastic strike rate of 17 this may affect his performance in the next world cup if he is in the squad and in the eleven for the 2015 world cup . I state by a conspiracy of Angelo Mathews the Captain and Sanath Jayasuriya , that among other matters It is the Sri Lanka team that has suffered from the day Ajantha Mendis was thrown out of the squad in November 2014 the very next day he was named the best ODI bowler in the world for year 2014 by the elite ICC panel , this same panel selected him has the only Sri Lankan Cricketer to be in the eleven for the world ODI team for the year 2014. Because of the conspiracy which if investigated by the CID it may involved Indian Bookies He was left out of the ODI squad to New Zealand and left out of the world cup 2015 no reason given by the captain and selectors for such actions and also our so called independent media not a hum even the media may have received payment to be silent
By letter dated 9/09/2014 to the then sports Minister Hon Aluthgamage in I stated among other matters Why was Spinner Ajantha Mendis dropped for the finals of Asia cup and Spinner Senanayake retained I stated that Adjantha Mendis who before the finals of the last Asia Cup was the highest wicket taker in Asia cup 2014 with 9 wickets in only 3 matches with a fantastic strike rate of a wicket for every 17 balls left out of the final compared with , Lasith Malinga 6 wicket and spinner Senanayake the selectors 1st Choice spinner with only 4 wickets and a strike rate of 57 three time more than Ajantha Mendis, retained for the finals would not Ajantha Mendis be completely demoralized as in the last 50/50 world cup finals in 2011 he was left out in the finals while having a strike rate very close to Murali and a economic rate the least in the whole world cup of 3.3 to Murali’s 4.11 supporting statistics from crick Info and we lost the cup and there has been no explanation as to the reason he was left out. The then captain Sanga Resigned . I stated that in the 2014 Asia cup omission in the finals also with no logical explanation but most probably would have miss Adjantha Mendis from getting the man of the series as he would have had to obtain only 3 wickets more to retain his fantastic strike rate of 17 this may affect his performance in the next world cup if he is in the squad and in the eleven for the 2015 world cup . I state by a conspiracy of Angelo Mathews the Captain and Sanath Jayasuriya , that among other matters It is the Sri Lanka team that has suffered from the day Ajantha Mendis was thrown out of the squad in November 2014 the very next day he was named the best ODI bowler in the world for year 2014 by the elite ICC panel , this same panel selected him has the only Sri Lankan Cricketer to be in the eleven for the world ODI team for the year 2014. Because of the conspiracy which if investigated by the CID it may involved Indian Bookies He was left out of the ODI squad to New Zealand and left out of the world cup 2015 no reason given by the captain and selectors for such actions and also our so called independent media not a hum even the media may have received payment to be silent