'They don’t wake up with sore knees every morning like I do' – Malinga

[FairCricket]

In an exclusive interview with Island Cricket, Lasith Malinga explains why he may not play another Test match for Sri Lanka again. AFP PHOTO/Lakruwan WANNIARACHCHI Why are you unable to play Test cricket but not ODIs and Twenty20s? I missed the last Test series against West Indies because the team management decided not to risk aggravating my knee problems before the World Cup. “Test cricket or 3 - 4 day cricket places a much bigger strain on my knees because I have to be able to bowl a minimum of 15-20 overs in a day, on consecutive days. And in Test cricket, these days, you also have to play back to back games. “When I returned from injury, I started with T20 cricket and then moved to ODI cricket, which gave me some recovery time to get over the soreness. “Test cricket is far tougher physically and these days there are a lot more Test matches than there were before.” How well did your knee hold up when you last played a Test match? “It took me about two months to physically recover and completely get over the soreness, after the India series.” You have stated that you will be assessing your Test career after the World Cup. “Yes, I need to carefully consider what is best for me and Sri Lanka. I love Test cricket. And we have some great series coming up against England, Australia and South Africa. But recent tests in November showed that there is a lot of wear and tear under my right knee cap and some thinning of the cartilage. “The doctors have said that I will always have sore knees and the more cricket I play the more they will degenerate. So, I need to sit with the selectors and team management to work out how best to plan my career – do I risk playing all three formats right now, or do we try and extend my career a couple of years by playing just ODI’s and T20 games.” What would you like to say to those who don't agree with your move? Some feel Test cricket should be given more prominence than Twenty20s and ODIs. “They don’t wake up with sore knees every morning like I do and they did not spend over a year worrying whether I would ever be able to bowl again! “It is not a question of whether Test cricket is more or less important. It is a question of what is physically possible and what the team feels is the most sensible thing to do.” Sri Lanka has a busy Test schedule this year; is it safe to say that you won't be a part of it? “I don’t know. Let’s see how the World Cup goes and then I will sit down with the captain, new coach and selectors.” LINK

[Hell Raiser]

good. He doesn't belong to cricket anyways. should have been playing discuss throw...

[satyam1729]

good. He doesn't belong to cricket anyways. should have been playing discuss throw...

:headshake::headshake:

[FairCricket]

good. He doesn't belong to cricket anyways. should have been playing discuss throw...

he is a man with courage , even when he knows he cant last long with action like that , he carried his career forward , hope best for him to continue his cricket long as possible :hatsoff:

[Sachinism]

I feel your pain. I get sore knees during cricket season. Started bowling spin now, not as painful anymore

[straight.drive]

May be the fat IPL contract has made him more "conscious" of his sore knees. This is pretty much expected..

[vaibhav_delhi]

No test cricket = Less respect as a cricketer.

[Zelig]

They don't throw discuss like you do too :phehehe:

[flamy]

ya feck test cricket. love watching him bowl in coloured clothes.

[Debutant]

Pretty good bowler no doubt.

[Clarke]

Good for him & SL. He loves playing for his country, doesn't fix matches, doesn't chuck, never got into drugs and does not tamper/bite the ball. That's good enough for me these days.

[Zelig]

Discuss thrower or not..I like his energy and the way he plays the game..with a smile :isalute: I haven't seen SRT smile a lot at opposition players, but I saw him do once at Malinga after he bowled a slow ball yorker and on other occassion, at Gayle when Chris was kidding around. Props to both! God smiled at you. Your lyf will be beautiful forever and ever :icflove:

[Cricketics]

A clean bowler, with clean records. Just wierd action but is a pretty good and wicket taking bowler. Those who play cricket would know what pain he is going through with all that knee injury etc. Regardless of him not playing test match, he will always be considered a good player. It's not his fault that his knee is that bad, atleast he is loyal to his country and wants to give his hundred percent, and hence doesn't bring himself to test cricket as he knows he won't be fit enough to play the 5 day.

[Sachin=GOD]

:mi: Fantastic bowler. Would have loved to see him in Tests also.

[DeadMan]

:hatsoff:

[Dravid]

we have matches on sunday only, with maybe a 2-3 hour practice once a week..and still get tried after a while and get pain in shoulder, back, knees etc these ppl play way more matches, practice a lot, so its understandable, esp. for some1 who puts the kind of effort he does in bowling..

[punjabi_khota]

He built too much muscle mass probably for his knees to support..:P Red meat is not always the answer :hahaha:

[Watson87]

Hope he recovers soon, any bowler who bowls over 140kph consistently is a treat to watch and he's one of them.

[yoda]

Didn't know he had these problems. Good idea to make yourself available for whatever format you are capable of playing in, instead of destroying yourself.

[Zero_Unit]

good. He doesn't belong to cricket anyways. should have been playing discuss throw...

I know i would be scared to face him. Te way he runs will already scare the EFF out of me ... the bowling comes next ... SIKEEE!! lol