BoyBrumby
Englishman
My reading is that Flower is bemoaning a system rather than slamming/bashing/tearing into Malinga.
He's saying it's a shame a very individual talent has been lost to the sport's gold standard because of a system that means he's better rewarded elsewhere.
I don't blame Malinga myself, but will say there are lots of examples of other sportsmen turning down higher salaries to continue to represent their countries. More or less every Australian or New Zealand Super 15 rugby player could earn much more money by coming to play in the UK or France, but the vast majority don't because it would mean giving away tests.
He's saying it's a shame a very individual talent has been lost to the sport's gold standard because of a system that means he's better rewarded elsewhere.
I don't blame Malinga myself, but will say there are lots of examples of other sportsmen turning down higher salaries to continue to represent their countries. More or less every Australian or New Zealand Super 15 rugby player could earn much more money by coming to play in the UK or France, but the vast majority don't because it would mean giving away tests.