StinkyBoHoon
National Board President
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2009
- Location
- Glasgow, Scotland
"Although I am sufficiently fit to play both ODI and T20 cricket, I have a long-standing degenerative condition in my right knee that needs to be carefully managed," Malinga's statement read. "The condition relates directly to the chronic knee injury I sustained playing for Sri Lanka in Australia back in February 2008, an injury that prevented me from playing ODI cricket for 16 months.
"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.
"I did try to return to Test cricket after a three-year absence last year [against India] following requests from the team management and the selectors, but it left me unfit nursing severe knee pain for two months.
"I have realised that the heavy workload of Test cricket, which requires a fast bowler to be able to bowl more than 15 overs, sometimes on consecutive days, could lead to permanent injury. I have carefully considered my options and have decided that not playing Test cricket will help me achieve my goal of representing Sri Lanka in the 2012 World Twenty20 and the 2015 World Cup."
Sri Lanka news: Lasith Malinga gives up Test cricket | Sri Lanka Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo
Really sad as the signs were on his brief come back he could have been a very good fast bowler, and even with Steyn there is still a draught of them.
I hope this is not a knee-jerk (scoff) reaction to avoid skipping the IPL to attend physio because the sri lankan board asked him to after he withdrew himself injured from the test squad. He clearly did need wrapping in cotton wool a bit though.
On the other hand were New Zealand given this option 8-9 years ago with shane bond, we might have been able to keep one of the greatest lost talents around in the international scene.
Still, last 10 years cricket has lost Akthar, Bond, Malinga and Jones to knee problems (And certainly didn't see the best of Flintoff and currently 2/3rds of the west indies ideal attack are side lined). Perhaps another indication that it's a batsman's game these days is the fact that it seems impossible for a good quick bowler to manage the workload expected of him.