Sangakkara backs Malinga’s decison to quit Tests

Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara on Saturday rubbished talks that mercurial speedster Lasith Malinga chose IPL over national duties while announcing his retirement from Test cricket and said critics should not question his professional commitment.

“It gets confusing when people try and take sides. It can happen when some people criticise Malinga for picking IPL over country. That is of all nonsense to me. There is never a stage where Lasith can ever pick IPL over country. Malinga is a dedicated no-nonsense cricketer. He is the toughest no-nonense cricketer I have ever met,” Sangakkara told a news channel.

“I don’t think there was ever a question Lasith did not want to play Test cricket. He wanted to play in all three formats of the game. Unfortunately for him, his body was not able to stand the rigours of Test cricket. He is a guy who gives everything when on the field. So you can’t question his commitments. He does not think about the next match or the next series. He only thinks about doing well in that particular match,” he added.

Malinga, whose sling-arm bowling action and devastating yorkers proved to be a nightmare for batsmen the world over, yesterday announced his retirement from Test cricket because of a “long-standing degenerative” knee injury.

The surprise announcement from Malinga, regarded as the fastest bowler produced by Sri Lanka till date, was being interpreted as a move to put an end to the selection dispute with his cricket establishment which wanted him to return from the IPL for a rehabilitation programme.

Malinga, who had pulled out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming Test tour of England citing fitness woes and is leading the wicket tally for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL, clarified that the condition stops him from playing in the Test format only.

“The injury was a career-threatening injury and my orthopaedic surgeon was of the opinion that given his experience with other professional athletes in Australia I was very fortunate to play again.”

“I have since been advised by the national team physiotherapist and my orthopaedic consultant that my condition will deteriorate when fielding or bowling for prolonged periods,” the fast bowler had said in a statement.

Sangakkara, skipper of the Deccan Chargers, said the pacer had been suffering from this injury for quite some time and quitting Test cricket would help him concentrate in other two formats of the game.

“His decision was not a surprise to me. He had spoken about it in January this year and looking at his long-term future for Sri Lanka, I think it’s the right decision for him taken at the right time. I think this is the most sensible decision he can take at this time.”

“We would love to have him playing Test cricket but he has got a condition that he is not going to get better. More Test matches for him might actually mean end of his career. It’s a huge decision that he has taken and a very tough one. It’s the right decision for him and for the Sri Lankan cricket because this way we can have him for a long cause playing in ODIs and T20s,” the former captain added.

Sangakkara said had the Sri Lankan cricket Board (SLC) forced him to play Test cricket, the country would have lost him as a fast bowler many years back.

“We did want him to play against India. He was not 100 per cent sure but he came and played and did wonderfully well for us. But it really took a lot out of him. He played the third Test but was left with terrible knee pain and other problems for two months. If we had kept asking him to play, we would have lost him as a fast bowler very quickly. It would be a shame not for just the Sri Lankan cricket but for the world cricket and Lasith’s bright future.”

“His playing the IPL nowhere jeopardise his chances or commitment for playing for the country. Lasith will go back after the IPL and selectors will speak to him,” he added.

Malinga took the right decision: Jayawardene

Jaipur,  (PTI): Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene feels speedster Lasith Malinga has taken the right decision in bidding adieu to Test cricket and said it would help his dream of playing in the 2015 World Cup.

The Kochi Tuskers Kerala skipper said Malinga has been suffering from this injury for quite some time and quitting Test cricket would help his dream of playing for Sri Lanka in the World Cup 2015.

The 33-year-old also dispelled the notion that Malinga’s decision was prompted by comments made by a section of the Sri Lankan cricket administration regarding his participation in IPL while declaring himself unfit for the country’s upcoming Test tour of England.

“I feel he has taken the right decision after pondering over all aspects. He has been suffering from this knee injury for quite some time,” Jayawardene told reporters on the eve of their IPL match against Rajasthan Royals.

“I know when I was the captain we used to try and calculate his work load and used him accordingly. At times it used to flare up and once he was away from cricket for 16 months.”

“In order to extend his career he has to quit test cricket. In fact his target is next world cup in 2015 and by bidding adieu to tests he has prolonged his career in shorter version of the game.”

“He had worked hard and made a fine comeback and is performing brilliantly. He has realised that he can’t sustain that huge work load and perhaps has prolonged his career. I am very happy for him,” said the Sri Lankan skipper.”

Iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar turns 38 on Sunday and Jayawardene wished the Indian a very special birthday. “He is like a bottle of wine getting better and better with time and is performing brilliantly in all three forms of cricket. Whole of India, reveres him like god. As fellow cricketers we admire him. He is a role model,” he said.

Asked about S Sreesanth, who has played the initial two matches so far in the fourth Indian Premier League, Jayawardene said the temperamental pacer was fit and bowling well.

“His attitude is in control and he is fit and bowling well. But with bowlers like Vinay Kumar and others doing well he couldn’t find a place in the scheme of things,” said Jayawardene.

IPL play: A welcome deal says Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara, captain of Deccan Chargers, expressed his delight at the fact that the Sri Lankan players can stay back longer to represent their respective franchisees in the on-going Indian Premier League.   “It is a welcome agreement between the cricket Boards of India and Sri Lanka. For it allows us to play longer in the IPL and also lets us take part in a practice game before the England series which will be played under difficult conditions,” the Chargers captain said here on Friday.

 “I have always said that the players will abide by the decision of the Sri Lankan board on this subject,” he said.  Sangakkara did not feel that after he leaves for national duty, Chargers would be depleted. “I don’t think so. There are quite a few internationals capable of rising to the occasion, taking up the leadership and the responsibility,” he remarked.

On Dilshan Tillekaratne being appointed captain of Sri Lankan team, Sangakarra felt it should be a tough year but that he was capable of seeing the team through.

On Sunday’s clash with Mumbai Indians Sangakarra said, “we hope our guys will do the right things at the right time in front of what one understands should be a capacity crowd.   “There are many batters and bowlers who have done well. But for me Paul Valthaty of Kings XI Punjab has been the surprise hero so far in this IPL edition. He is a cut above the rest,” said Sangakarra. (The Hindu)