Lasith Malinga's debut in International Cricket

Lasith Malinga’s debut was a dream one for him personally. Malinga or Slinga as his fans call him is the name that most batsmen dread, in the final overs of a T-20 or even an ODI. The ferocious Sri Lankan known for his ability to take hattricks and torture batsmen with an ability to bowl 6 yorkers in an over is one of the most unique bowlers of our era. His uniqueness starts from his unusual slinging action which, according to him, evolved this way as a result of playing tennis ball cricket which offers no margin for error. Now Malinga is a star but let’s take a look at the circumstances when he started playing International cricket.

Slinga

Unlike most players of this generation, Malinga started his career by playing in a Test match rather than an ODI. Despite being a big name in the Sri Lankan domestic circuit, he was a surprise starter in the Sri Lankan squad in their tour of Australia. He impressed right away by bowling out Gilchrist and Lehmann in the same over. He ended up with 6 wickets in the match played between 1-3 July 2004 ,and despite Lanka’s loss, Gilchrist gave him one of the match stumps after the match. He destroyed New Zealand’s batting in the Tests played soon after. Over time he decided to retire from Tests in order to prolong his ODI and T20 career as his action makes him vulnerable to injuries and takes a toll on his back due to his tendency to bowl yorkers and bouncers at more than normal frequency.In ODIs, he debuted against UAE on 17th July 2004 and took 1 wicket aiding Sri Lanka in a comfortable victory over the minnows. Malinga’s career trajectory has been dramatically different in ODIs than Tests and he has never looked back since his debut in the shorter format of the game. His control over yorkers and bouncers, which he bowls almost at will makes him the most difficult bowler to face in the end overs of any limited overs game. Add to that a menacing pace of over 140 kmph and the ability to bowl slower balls with great control for an express bowler working in that speed range and you have a nighmare on your hands if you are a batsman. He also uses his cleverly disguised slow off-cutter to perfection. Apart from this, he seems to have a penchant for taking consecutive wickets. He’s the only bowler to have taken 4 hat-tricks in ODIs and the first and only one to have taken 4 wickets in 4 consecutive balls. This deadly trait of his has made him an indespensable weapon in T20s which the Mumbai Indians use to the point of over-dependence. With a world-cup coming, it remains to be seen if Malinga weaves his magic yet again.