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Lasith Malinga
- Thread starter Athlai
- Start date
PhoenixFire
International Coach
Ah yes, just thought it might be some sort of reference to his hair that's allHis action is freakish, TBH - nothing about his body. Freakish by design, not by accident.
(I understand and appreciate what you were saying there, BTW)
Dick Rockett
International Vice-Captain
An excellent bowler. I sincerely hope he sticks around for a long time because I'm sick of seeing bat dominate ball. Painful as it was to watch as an NZ supporter, his bowling in the WC semi-final was absolute gold, and a rarity in this day and age.
JBH001
International Regular
I would rank him as a good test bowler and a very good odi bowler.
I am doubtful if he will make it into the great category in either forms of the game - though there is substantially more of a chance of that in odi's than in tests. It is good that he has upped his pace and developed variations, especially the slower ball, and what seems to be a very good leg cutter/fast leg break. However, the fact that he struggles to consistently land the seam in the right position on the pitch, because of his action, means I think that he will never make the great bowler category.
In regard to his action, I am with Swervy on this one. I fail to see how the pressure on his left leg is any worse than other bowlers - if anything it should be less. In my opinion the major stresses on his body impact on his hips/mid-back region.
Furthermore, comparisons with Thommo are misplaced as though Thommo also had a slinging type action, his arm was more conventional and came over the top. Thommo also had a bit of a shuffle to the crease and then wham which meant that his body had to generate sufficient momentum to achieve high ball speeds, Malinga is more conventional in this respect as he runs in at a decent clip, and the momentum generated from there carries through in his action at the crease.
In many respects I think Malinga has a more 'natural' action, physiologically speaking at least, compared to conventional bowling actions - but as others have said, the wonder is that he is able to consistently land it on the square while using that action.
I am doubtful if he will make it into the great category in either forms of the game - though there is substantially more of a chance of that in odi's than in tests. It is good that he has upped his pace and developed variations, especially the slower ball, and what seems to be a very good leg cutter/fast leg break. However, the fact that he struggles to consistently land the seam in the right position on the pitch, because of his action, means I think that he will never make the great bowler category.
In regard to his action, I am with Swervy on this one. I fail to see how the pressure on his left leg is any worse than other bowlers - if anything it should be less. In my opinion the major stresses on his body impact on his hips/mid-back region.
Furthermore, comparisons with Thommo are misplaced as though Thommo also had a slinging type action, his arm was more conventional and came over the top. Thommo also had a bit of a shuffle to the crease and then wham which meant that his body had to generate sufficient momentum to achieve high ball speeds, Malinga is more conventional in this respect as he runs in at a decent clip, and the momentum generated from there carries through in his action at the crease.
In many respects I think Malinga has a more 'natural' action, physiologically speaking at least, compared to conventional bowling actions - but as others have said, the wonder is that he is able to consistently land it on the square while using that action.
Athlai
Not Terrible
There seems to be a very strong opinion on how likely he is to injure himself. But as Swervy says that point is debatable, while I wish I could have a resource or two on the matter I've heard commentators discussing it on their tour to NZ and how it was just a misconception that it made injury more likely.
Unfortunately my sifting through the web has found nothing to back up the argument either way. I would like to hear what Malinga's physio has to say on the matter really, because I think he would probably be able to analyse it the best.
If he has a good long career with only an injury or two ( as if often the case in international cricket ), would he then be the great that he has the potential to be?
Also, there seems to be a lot of batting debates here on Cricket Web and I've seen very few bowling ones. So if not Malinga, who do you think is the most destructive pace bowler in the world?
Unfortunately my sifting through the web has found nothing to back up the argument either way. I would like to hear what Malinga's physio has to say on the matter really, because I think he would probably be able to analyse it the best.
If he has a good long career with only an injury or two ( as if often the case in international cricket ), would he then be the great that he has the potential to be?
Also, there seems to be a lot of batting debates here on Cricket Web and I've seen very few bowling ones. So if not Malinga, who do you think is the most destructive pace bowler in the world?
Athlai
Not Terrible
I don't know about that, a bit of a Sangakarra fan myself. What a handsome bloke.
Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
An unusual action which springs up more than a few surprises, even more at near-express pace. A sudden bucketful of wickets. A surprised batting captain. A batting side crunched.
Enjoy it- while it lasts. Malinga, at his height, may not keep up that form too long- we've seen what has happened to countless short seam bowlers from the subcontinent, and recently, the West Indies. The likes of Hayden, Gilchrist and Hussey, once set, can take this bloke to the cleaners, so how long he can keep up the pace is the key- that's his main advantage. Once he loses that X-factor, he's an easy target for batting sides. That said, the sooner Dilhara returns to form, the better for SL.
Enjoy it- while it lasts. Malinga, at his height, may not keep up that form too long- we've seen what has happened to countless short seam bowlers from the subcontinent, and recently, the West Indies. The likes of Hayden, Gilchrist and Hussey, once set, can take this bloke to the cleaners, so how long he can keep up the pace is the key- that's his main advantage. Once he loses that X-factor, he's an easy target for batting sides. That said, the sooner Dilhara returns to form, the better for SL.
Pup Clarke
Cricketer Of The Year
Arjun, when has Dilhara Fernando ever been "in form"?.
good point...
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
You're not 100% familar with Arjun yet, I don't think.
chaminda_00
Hall of Fame Member
TBF there was time when he was averaging in the mid 20s, maybe late 20s in both forms. It was a short period, but a good period for Sri Lankan fans. The Sri Lankan seletors might be stupid for keep going back to him. But there is some logic to his and Zoysa continual selection. Outside Vaas and Malinga, there were short period (when fully fit) they were the 3rd and 4th best fast bowlers ever for Sri Lanka, including players from the past. It probably says more about the other bowlers, but they were both international standard for stages in their careers. Their overall career averages are still better then most Sri Lankan seamers, again says more about the other seamers that have played for us.
chaminda_00
Hall of Fame Member
Zoysa has been given as many chances as Fernando; Zoysa (95 ODIs, 30 Tests), Dilhara (112 ODIs, 24 Tests). Both are far too inconsistent to be continually getting re-select, but there not much better. Dilhara still has the 4th best bowling average in Test Cricket for Sri Lanka, Zoysa is 6th. Interms of wickets Dilhara 7th and Zoysa is 9th. Its about the same in ODIs, Zoysa got the 6th best bowling average and Dilhara got the 9th. In terms of wickets Dilhara 6th and 8th.
Looking at those figures i think most casual viewers of Sri Lankan cricket can see why we keep going back to them. There not many bowlers in the history of Sri Lankan cricket that have done better then those two. I think sometimes (myself included) forgot how bad some of the other bowlers have been in the past, in comparsion to those two. We seem to want everyone to be at the same level of Vaas, Murali and Malinga. But with our small talent pool its not going to happen, unless we get really lucky.
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i personally dont think that Fernando should be dropped...heisnt all that bad TBH. He is slightly inconsistent...but then there are not many players in the set up for sri lanka at the moment. I personally dont like mahroof TBH...he doesnt seem penetrative enough and cant win as many games. Eg. the WC game against Englnad is a fine example. Fernando did a good job in the last over.
I havent seen too much of kululsekara...but frm what i have seen of him, he doesnt seem any better than fernando.
I havent seen too much of kululsekara...but frm what i have seen of him, he doesnt seem any better than fernando.
Majin
International Debutant
I think he's certainly a very good player, especially in the ODI's. Always very entertaining to watch, too, which is always good. Also another in the camp of "can't believe how straight and accurate he is with that action". Really love watching him bowl, especially that lethal yorker of his. Hope he sticks around and has a good future.
yep...hes got one of the best yorkers around at the moment. Accurate and fast and rarely gets it wrong.
chaminda_00
Hall of Fame Member
Maharoof does seem like his going to be a home pitch specialist. His lack penetration does come from his lack of pace. But one thing i have noticed is he is getting quicker slowly though. If he get his pace up to 130km/h he will be servicable away in ODIs. But at home there not much difference between 120km/h and mid 130s to 140s, due to the lack support from our pitches interms of extra pace.
We do have a couple other bowlers outside these Dilhara and Malinga that can bowl at over 130km/h. Amersinghe reported to bowl at those speeds (never seen him bowl so im not 100% sure) and Ganegama bowls mid 130s. Thilan Thursha can bowl 140s, but also bowls 120s when he has no ball, wide problems. Prabeth Nissanka the other bowler, but he needs a full season of domestic cricket first, he bowled mid 130s also.
But sooner or later we have to get away from the idea that pace is everything.
Pup Clarke
Cricketer Of The Year
What do you mean by that?.You're not 100% familar with Arjun yet, I don't think.
