First ball and over important for me - Malinga

CRICKET: Speed star Lasith Malinga who destroyed the Bangladesh batting said that Sri Lanka can now boast of having the best all round bowling attack in test cricket today.

The twenty three year old fast bowler stole the limelight while returning excellent figures of four for 25 runs from nine overs to send Bangladesh crashing to their lowest total in the first innings of the second test at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium yesterday.

Malinga noted that with Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando providing the back up support and off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in tremendous form the Sri Lankans could challenge any opposition under any condition.

Malinga who made his test debut against Australia in 2004 said that he is raring to have a go at the World Champions on their back yard when the two teams clash in two Test matches in Brisbane and Hobart later this year.

Malinga said that the secret for his success is because he bowls with the intention of claiming a wicket with every delivery. He said that the first ball and the first over of the match is most important for him and that will help him to maintain the same rhythm throughout the innings.

He said that another reason for his success is because he bowled from wicket to wicket similar to a one day match and added that as a lot of one day cricket had been played in the past continue to bowl in the same style hoping to pick up a wicket every time.

(C.D).