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| Thursday, 1 July 2004 |
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The 'pocket rocket' is set to fire Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from Australia DARWIN, Wednesday - Dubbed the 'pocket rocket' by team coach John Dyson, fast bowler Lasith Malinga said that he was extremely happy to be given the opportunity to make his Test debut against the best team in the world - Australia. One look at Malinga and no one will class him as a fast bowler. But give the ball to his hands and ask him to bowl at you and you will then see the difference. "The ball is in my hands. I don't have any fear against any batsman," said 20-year-old Malinga as he began preparations at the Marrara Oval nets for tomorrow's big day when he will be making his Test debut. "It was very pleasing for me to be selected for this tour. I started playing cricket only at the age of 17. To come to playing in a Test within such a short space of time is a dream. I am extremely happy," said Malinga. Being not so fluent in his English, Malinga needed the assistance of team manager Ajith Jayasekera to answer questions posed to him the Australian print and electronic media. Malinga, a produce from Galle caused hum of excitement with his sensational six-wicket bowling performance against Northern Territory's Chief Minister's XI, which Sri Lanka went onto defeat by five wickets here on Sunday. That superb bowling performance where he had Australian Test batsmen Justin Langer and Simon Katich hurrying their strokes brought him into the limelight and a Test cap. Malinga began playing cricket for Vidyaloka, Galle in the under 17 team but after two matches he got an opportunity to go to Mahinda College, one of the much established schools in the South. There he played three seasons in the first team and took 50 wickets in his final year. Joining Galle CC in 2003 he made a memorable debut in the Premier trophy match capturing eight wickets against CCC at Maitland Crescent. Since then his career has been on a constant rising curve with tours to India and New Zealand with the Sri Lanka 'A' teams. In New Zealand he impressed everyone with his extra pace taking four wickets in his first match. "I was in the 31-member Sri Lanka 'A' squad hoping to tour England when I got the news that I had been selected to tour Australia. I was very happy," said Malinga whose slinging bowling action has troubled and surprised many batsmen. He puts it down to playing a lot of softball cricket during his childhood. "Sri Lanka Cricket fast bowling coaches like Rumesh Ratnayake and Champaka Ramanayake had tried to change my bowling action but they found that I would lose my speed. So they abandoned that idea and let me bowl the way I am doing now," said Malinga. "I have no problems bowling with a slinging action but I must try to take more wickets. My coaches tell me to bowl straight and fast on a good length. When I did that in the four-day game here I got wickets," he said. His figures of 6 for 90 are easily his best performance against an international side. Malinga's bowling action is reminiscent to former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson. Even Rumesh Ratnayake, the former Sri Lanka spearhead bowled with a similar action. The most destructive deliveries of Malinga are the bouncer and the yorker, which the batsmen find difficult to pick up early because of his unusual action. He also bowls outswingers and reverse swings the old ball. Sri Lanka will hope that Malinga will somewhat compensate the absence of Muttiah Muralitharan in the bowling line up although it is a tough call asking the youngster to fill in the boots of an icon. |
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