Lasith Malinga working on a new delivery

Lasith Malinga is an example of how looks can be deceptive. With a curly, golden mop of hair and tattoos adorning his arms, the Sri Lankan comes across as one of those fast bowlers who love life in the fast lane. But, get to the know the man, and he's the opposite. There's no fascination for fast cars or those racing bikes. The only speed that thrills him is hurling those toe-crushers with his dreaded slinging action.

The Mumbai Indians' bowler, who again is on the top of the bowling charts, spoke to HT on a wide range of issues, including the burning country versus IPL debate and his recent back injury, which forced him to miss a few games.

He countered the talk of his selectors not being happy for rushing back into IPL, by saying that it was his call to be a freelance player.

Excerpts:

Even after five years in the IPL you have been on top and been tough to decipher. How have you maintained the consistency?

I don't think I'm the best bowler, but the main thing is I like to play under pressure. I bowl at the end of the powerplay, then come to bowl in the death overs. There's no secret, just that I want to be there when the pressure is on. I understand pressure better now. That's it. The batsman may know I am going to bowl a yorker or a slow ball now but he still has to hit it. Anytime the captain asks me, I have to be ready. My role is to bowl.

Bowlers keep looking to improve. Anything new in your arsenal?

I am developing a new ball but haven't used it yet. I am waiting for the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. I want to use it then.

Can you explain it? Is it something you picked up after seeing someone bowl?

It's a slower ball. I can bowl but I can't explain it. You have to see it on TV, how I am doing it. It's something I tried on my own. I have tried in my training sessions but not in the nets. I want to go back to Sri Lanka and gain more confidence as here I don't do much bowling in the nets. I haven't bowled in the nets so I don't know how the batsmen will cope with it.

You had an injury break in the IPL. Can you clear the air about it?

I had back pain and missed three games. I went to Sri Lanka and got treated. Now it's 100 percent fine.

Are your selectors okay that you are playing the IPL instead of resting?

I don't have a contract with the Board. I am a freelance player. I just want to play cricket, doesn't matter whether I am playing in Sri Lanka, IPL, club or county cricket. I have three-four years maximum left. After 10-15 years, nobody will know how I used to bowl.

How tough is it to not be paid regularly by your board?

I don't mind. I don't bother about the money; I want to play, whether it's for the national team or the IPL.

Some of your former players like Arjuna Ranatunga say Sri Lankan players prefer IPL over country?

Only one guy is saying that. I don't mind.

There is a strong opinion that youngsters shouldn't be playing T20 cricket as their development as Test cricketers is affected.

I don't think that (I preferred T20 to Test cricket). I also played Tests but then I got injured and my body couldn't take it. Twenty20, 50 overs and Test cricket are different types of games. If we need to learn, we have to play Test cricket, like how to bowl reverse swing, how to bowl in different situations. In Tests, we have a lot of time to think and strategise. T20 is just one-and-half hours, it is important to think quickly and do it right. T20 is a mind game, Test is a mind and physical game and you need to have a good level of fitness.

How has been the experience of playing at the Wankhede, for Sri Lanka and Mumbai Indians?

I played the IPL before the World Cup and the crowd supported me. The Indian fans backed me in the final and I was very happy. I don't feel much difference whether I play for Sri Lanka or MI.

HT Media Limited

Sri Lanka Vs India highlights in ODI tri-series

Sri Lanka have accomplished the feat of recording two centuries in an ODI eleven times - two times each against Bangladesh, England and India and once each against Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and Netherlands. 

# Against India, two centuries have been recorded twice by Sri Lanka in an ODI - the first occasion being Marvan Atapattu (102 not out) and Mahela Jayawardene (128) at Sharjah on October 27, 2000. 

# Tendulkar and Sehwag put on 54 - India's highest stand for the first wicket in Australia in 2011-12 in eighteen international innings - their second fifty-plus first wicket partnership. 

# Gautam Gambhir (63 off 64 balls) has posted his 31st fifty in ODIs - his fourth against Australia. 

# Gambhir's ODI record in the Australian tri-series is superb, aggregating- 748 runs at an average of 49.86, including two hundreds and four fifties. 

# Gambhir is the first Indian player to amass 300 runs in the CB Series 2011-12, aggregating 308 at an average of 44.00 in seven matches, including three half-centuries. 

# Three centuries have been recorded in an ODI on twenty occasions, including four in an ODI once - two each by Pakistan and Australia at Lahore on November 10, 1998. 

# Virender Sehwag (30) has registered his highest innings in the present competition. 

# Virat Kohli has posted a career-best (133 not out), eclipsing the 118 against Australia at Visakhapatnam on October 20, 2010. 

# Kohli, with just one superb knock, has become the leading run-getter in the Commonwealth Bank Series 2011-12 - 373 (ave. 53.28), including a hundred and two fifties, in eight matches. 

# Kohli has posted his first century in Australia. His ninth hundred in ODIs is his second against Sri Lanka. 

# India have won eight games when Kohli has posted a hundred. His record in Indian triumphs is quite impressive, aggregating 2252 runs in 48 matches at an average of 60.86, including eight hundreds and twelve fifties. 

# Kohli's beautiful innings is the third highest by an Indian batsman in ODIs in Australia.Sourav Ganguly had made 141 against Pakistan at Adelaide on January 25, 2000 and Yuvraj Singh 139 against Australia at SCG on January 22, 2004. 

# Kohli has been adjudged the Man of the Match for the eight time in ODIs - his first against Sri Lanka. 

# Kohli's 76-ball hundred is his quickest in ODIs - the third highest for India against Sri Lanka, next only to two outstanding knocks by Virender Sehwag - 66 balls at Rajkot on December 15, 2009 and 75 balls at Colombo, RPS on February 3, 2009. 

# The unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 120 between Raina and Kohli is India's highest in Australia during the 2011-12 season. 

# For the first time in the current tour, India have recorded two stands of 100-plus in the same ODI innings. 

# Lasith Malinga has conceded 96 runs in only 7.4 overs, his economy rate being 12.52 - the worst recorded by a bowler in an ODI while conceding 70 runs or more. 

# The Hobart ODI has produced 641 runs - the second highest in an India-Sri Lanka encounter - the highest is 825 for 15 wickets at Rajkot on December 15, 2009. 

# The aforesaid match-aggregate is the highest in an ODI in Australia, not featuring Australia. Australia and New Zealand produced 678 at Perth on January 28, 2007 while Australia and England produced 667 at Sydney on February 2, 2011. 

# Kumar Sangakkara (105 off 87 balls) has recorded his fourth hundred against India - his 13th in ODIs. 

# Sangakkara has posted eleven centuries as wicketkeeper in ODIs - the second best tally as wicketkeeper, behind Adam Gilchrist's tally of 16. 

# India's superb seven-wicket victory is their 70th against Sri Lanka in 133 ODIs - success % 57.78 (Lost 51, Tied 1 & NR 11). 

# India (321/3) have posted their highest successful chase in Australia - their first total of 300-plus, 

# India's above total is their highest in Australia, surpassing the 303 for four against Australia at Gabba on January 18, 2004. The said total is their highest successful chase against Sri Lanka, bettering the 317 for three at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on December 24, 2009. 

# India's magnificent successful chase is their joint third best, behind the 326 for eight against England at Lord's on July 13, 2002 and 325 for five against the West Indies at Ahmedabad on November 15, 2002. Against New Zealand, India had successfully chased 321 for five at Bangalore on December 7, 2010. 

# India overall have chased 300 or more successfully twelve times in ODIs. 

# Sri Lanka (320/4) have recorded their highest total against India in Australia, surpassing the 289 for six at Brisbane on February 21, 2012. The said score is their second highest in Australia, behind the 343 for five against Australia at Sydney on January 9, 2003. 

# India (321 for three) have posted the second highest at Bellerive Oval, behind Australia's 344 for seven against Zimbabwe on January 16, 2004. 

# India have accomplished the target of 300-plus in less than 40 overs (36.4 overs), becoming the second team to do so successfully. Sri Lanka (324/2 off 37.3 overs) had achieved the feat against England (321/7 at Leeds on July 1, 2006). 

# Tillakaratne Dilshan (160 not out off 165 balls) has recorded his 11th century in ODIs - his fourth against India. 

# Dilshan has emulated his highest innings in ODIs. He had registered 160 off 124 balls in the Rajkot ODI against India on December 15, 2009. He is the only batsman to post two innings of 150 or more in a losing cause. 

# Dilshan's above knock is his first century in Australian Tri Series - the said innings is the highest by a Sri Lankan player in Australia. 

# The 200-run stand between Dilshan and Sangakkara for the second wicket is the best ever partnership for any wicket at Bellerive Oval. 

# Sri Lanka's above partnership is their highest for the second wicket in ODIs. 

# Sri Lanka have registered a partnership of 200 or more for the second time in the Australian tri-series - their best is 237 for the opening wicket between Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya against Australia at SCG on January 9, 2003. 

# Five partnerships of 200 or more for the second wicket have been registered by a pair against India - two by Pakistan and one each by Sri Lanka, West Indies and Australia. 

# Zaheer Khan has become the leading wicket-taker for India against Sri Lanka in ODIs, claiming 62 wickets at 30.56 runs apiece in 43 matches, surpassing the 61 (ave.26.95) in 47 matches by Harbhajan Singh. 

# The invaluable 115-run stand between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli is an Indian record against Sri Lanka for the third wicket in Australia. 

# Raina and Kohli were involved in a partnership of 120 (unbroken) for the fourth wicket - India's highest against Sri Lanka in Australia. Their run-rate of 13.09 is India's highest in a century stand and the highest by any pair against a major side. 

# Kohli-Gambhir pair is averaging 75.33 in 20 innings while chasing - 1356 runs in 20 innings, including five century stands and three fifty-plus. The pair is the only one to average 75.00 while chasing. (Minimum 1000 runs) 

# India have posted 33 fours in their record total in Australia, emulating most fours in an innings in an ODI in Australia.

Cricket-Malinga's third hat-trick

Lasith Malinga became the first bowler to take three one-day international hat-tricks as Sri Lanka beat Australia by four wickets in the fifth and final match of their series on Monday.

Mahela Jayawardene and Chamara Silva made half-centuries to lead Sri Lanka to their target of 212 with three overs to spare after pace bowler Malinga wrecked the Australia innings with a devastating burst in his eighth over.

He bowled Mitchell Johnson, trapped John Hastings lbw and bowled Xavier Doherty as the touring side, who won the series 3-2, lost their last five wickets for just one run to be dismissed for 211.

New interim coach for Sri Lanka to replace Stuart Law

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) says it is considering appointing an interim coach to replace Stuart Law until a permanent successor is found.

Secretary Prakash Shaffter told the BBC that, contrary to media reports, the SLC has not short-listed candidates to replace Law.

"I am not aware of three short-listed names," said Shaffter.

He refused to elaborate on the interim replacement - whether it could be a Sri Lankan or a coach from abroad.

"We discussed some options. Obviously to secure a permanent coach will take some time," Shaffter told BBC Sinhala Service after the first meeting of the new interim committee.

"We are looking at a possible interim arrangement before securing the services of a permanent coach."

Law, who temporarily replaced Trevor Bayliss after the World Cup, is to take over as Bangladesh coach after Sri Lanka's current tour in England.

Shaffter, who was appointed by sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage on 1 July, said the new team will first have a look at where the previous administration stood on the issue.

"If we have the right names we will obviously will select someone from amongst those names," said Shaffter.

"Alternatively we'll look at re-addressing the post or sorting it out from the available contacts that we have."

The SLC has also discussed the critical remarks made by former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara in the MCC Spirit of Cricket Lecture, but has delayed the decision on the course of action, if any, until after the current tour.

"The team is in a middle of a tour. We would not want to deliberate the comments made by Sangakkara at this stage," Shaffter said.

But Shaffter ruled out any investigation into the speech that heavily criticised corruption in the cricket administration in Sri Lanka since the island gained Test status.

"[There is] absolutely no question of an investigation, certainly not," he said.

Minister Aluthgamage, who has ordered the board to submit a report on the remarks, earlier told BBC Sinhala that, as a contracted player, Sangakkara should not have made the comments.

Team have to adjust to Test format - batting coach Marvan Atapattu

Sri Lanka will have to adjust quickly to the Test format as well as different wickets if they are to challenge England in their backyard, batting coach Marvan Atapattu said Tuesday.
"The biggest challenge is to adjust to English conditions," Atapattu said as the bulk of Sri Lankan touring party left for England for a two-month tour.
Senior players Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, as well as a few others, will join the squad later after completing their commitments in the Indian Premier League, a lucrative franchise-owned Twenty20 competition.
The IPL players will hardly get time to acclimatise as they will arrive just ahead of the second and last practice game against England Lions from May 19.
With a new skipper in Tillakaratne Dilshan and an overhauled team management, the task will be cut out for the Sri Lankans against a side whose last Test outing saw them thrash Australia in the Ashes.
Sri Lanka last held a test series at home against the West Indies in November-December 2010 but all the three games were ruined by rain.
"We are playing a Test series after after a gap of a few months. Winning the Test series in England is our aim," Atapattu added.
The Sri Lankans are set to play three Tests, a Twenty20 international and five one-dayers during the England tour, which begins with a three-day practice match against Middlesex at Uxbridge from May 14.
The first Test in Cardiff begins on May 26.
"A (Test) win will make it easier for our preparation work for the one-day and T20 games," said Atapattu, a former Sri Lankan skipper.
The away side are also without retired spin great Muttiah Muralitharan who shaped the team's win in a one-off Test at the Oval in 1998 with a rich haul of 16 wickets.
Sri Lanka are yet to win a Test series in England with their best result so far being a 1-1 draw in 2006.
It was Muralitharan again who starred for Sri Lanka in that series, taking eight wickets in the second innings of the second Test at Trent Bridge to shape a 134-run win for his team.
Atapattu however played down the absence of the spin legend, saying the tour offered a fine opportunity for fringe players like Farveez Maharoof and Kaushal Silva to prove their credentials.
Maharoof, currently playing county cricket for Lancashire, made an impressive start to the season with a hundred on his debut against Somerset at Liverpool.
Silva, 24, is uncapped but has an impressive first-class average of 45 and has been picked up as a back-up for Prasanna Jayawardene.

Sri Lanka to hold cricket elections after court orders

ri Lanka Cricket is set for an overhaul after the Supreme Court on Monday ordered that the island’s richest sporting body, which has been run by an interim committee since 2004, should be elected.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court asked the sports ministry to hold elections and make the appointments by July 6, a court official said.

The sports minister had been using his powers till now to appoint officials to the interim committee.

The court order came after the local United Southern Sports Club filed a fundamental rights petition on behalf of clubs who have not been able to elect officials to the board.

A lack of elected office bearers has often been blamed for problems plaguing the sport in the country.

Australia’s Trevor Bayliss, who recently quit as Sri Lanka coach after a four-year stint with the team, had underlined the need for a strong and stable cricket administration.

“Good teams like Australia usually have got strong or good management backing the team up. That’s an area we can improve here,” he said in his parting comments.

Come with proof for match-fixing in Sri Lankan cricket -Muralitharan and Jayawardene

Hashan Tillakaratne said match-fixing in Sri Lankan cricket has existed since 1992, Muralitharan and Jayawardene were quick to say that the claims should be backed by proof.

Tillakaratne, who played 83 Tests and 200 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in a career spanning 18 years, claimed that his teammates have been involved in match-fixing for almost two decades. The comments from the former batsman drew mixed reactions, with many of his teammates including Muttiah Muralitharan and Mahela Jayawardene, besides Sri Lanka Cricket, questioning them and asking him to provide proof.

Muttiah Muralitharan
“I don’t know why he said this. If somebody is making such claims, he should first give enough proof to support them, otherwise someone can sue him.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2011.