Orthopaedic surgeon Dr.David Young advises....:

Malinga for ODIs and T20 matches only

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

CRICKET: Sri Lanka’s ace slingshot paceman Lasith Malinga who kept the cricket loving public in suspense in connection to his retirement from Test cricket, finally announced his retirement from the longer version of the game in a hastily summoned media briefing at the Galle Face Hotel.

Lasith Malinga - wants to give-up bowling at Test matches on medical advice and concentrate on limited-over Cricket and Twenty20 matches. AFP

Malinga said that his premature retirement from Test cricket was due to a rare recurring knee injury which cannot be fully cured. So, he had to ‘call it a day’ where Test cricket was concerned. That’s why he had specifically selected the T20 and the 50-overs versions of the game.

“I had decided to retire from Test cricket even before the World Cup. But I didn’t want to reveal it as I thought that it was not the right moment to make the announcement because the team was performing well. I did not want to disturb the preparation of the team for the big event. I thought that I will take a decision after the World Cup to plan my future due to my injury,” a very thoughtful Malinga quipped.

“When the selectors sat to select the team for the England tour they asked me about my future plans. At that moment I clearly explained my plight to them. I told them that I will not be able to play Test cricket right now because of my injury. I have also not played Test cricket for three years,” said Malinga.

Malinga who was out of cricket due to injury for one and a half years, made his appearance in 2009 in the Galle Test match against India which Sri Lanka lost, but Malinga took five wickets.

The disappointed Malinga said that during the eighteen-month period when he was sidelined due to injury, the administrators of Sri Lanka Cricket had relinquished his contract with the Board and it was a sorry state of affairs thereafter for him.

Malinga who seems to have lost faith in SLC, fearing a repetition which he underwent in 2006, said that his right knee-injury made him unable even to climb the steps at his home. He doubted that he would not be able to withstand the vigours of Test Cricket bowling a minimum 15 overs per day could lead to permanent injury.

He thought it was unfair not giving his best to the team. His knee injury is a one in a million occurence and the few other people who suffered by it, could not pursue their careers in the sporting field. Malinga said that he should consider himself extremely lucky to come this far in his selected sport.

Referring to his participating at the IPL T20 tournament, he said that no one could stop a person making an honest earning in securing a stable future.

“A sports personality could excel only for a short while. No one will give anything in writing or a guarantee with regards to one’s future.”

“I therefore decided not to play Test cricket that will aggravate my injury. But I decided to keep in touch with the game and play a less tiresome game and try and play for Sri Lanka in the 2012 T20 World Cup and the 2015 World Cup and represent the country in as many ICC events if selected”. The determined paceman Malinga said that he would be available for all Sri Lanka ODIs and T20 matches if necessary.”

Malinga’s career-threatening knee injury was sustained while playing for Sri Lanka against Australia in February 2008.

The injury prevented him in playing ODI cricket for 16 months. His orthopaedic surgeon Dr. David Young was of the opinion that given the experience with other professional athletes in Australia, Malinga was fortunate to play again.

“I have been advised not to play the longer version of the game as the injury could lead to a permanent one”, Malinga said.

He added that it will be around three years the most and then he hopes to lead a relaxed life.