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| Friday, 24 December 2004 |
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'Pocket Rocket' to replace Zoysa Sri Lanka's 'Pocket Rocket' Lasith Malinga has been called up as replacement for injured fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa for the five-match one-day international series against New Zealand starting at Auckland on Sunday. An SOS for a replacement was made by the Sri Lankan team management yesterday and the national selectors picked Malinga. The 21-year-old firebrand was named in the Sri Lanka Test squad for the two-match series against New Zealand starting next month, but will now go ahead of schedule following the call up for a replacement. He is expected to leave today but may miss out on the first game of the series on Sunday. Malinga made a rousing entry to Test cricket last year unsettling several Australian batsmen with his speed and unorthodox bowling action. He has represented his country in four Tests (15 wickets) so far and in as many one-day internationals (4 wickets). Zoysa injured a finger while attempting to take a return catch in Sri Lanka's opening match of the tour against Central Districts at New Plymouth on Tuesday and has been ruled out of the first one-day international. He suffered a dislocated finger which has been put back in place and he also suffered a cut which required a few stitches. X'rays showed no dislocation. Zoysa is expected to remain in New Zealand with the hope of recovering and playing in the remaining matches of the series. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's principal spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is recovering fast from a shoulder operation according to Sri Lanka Cricket sources and is a certainty to join the team in New Zealand for the two Test series starting at Hamilton on January 15. Muralitharan, who is the second highest Test wicket taker in the world with 532 wickets has been out of cricket since August.- [S.T.] |
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