Legend Lasith Malinga announces retirement from T20 cricket
Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga has announced retirement from all forms of cricket. One of the greatest fast bowlers, Malinga, served Sri Lanka cricket for nearly 16 years. The 38-year-old, who led Sri Lanka to World T20 title in 2014, has over 100 wickets in all three formats of the game. Malinga played his last international against West Indies in March 2020.
A look at his career
In a long-standing international career, Malinga registered exceptional numbers. He outfoxed the batsmen with his quirky action. Having represented Sri Lanka in 226 ODIs, he snapped up 338 wickets at an average of 28.87. The incredible tally includes 8 five-wicket hauls and 11 four-fors. Malinga also has 107 T20I and 101 Test wickets to his name at 20.79 and 33.15 respectively.
Highest wicket-taker in T20Is
Till date, Malinga is the leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals. In fact, he is one of the two bowlers in T20I history to take 100 wickets (107). The likes of Shakib Al Hasan (106), Tim Southee (99), and Shahid Afridi (98) follow him.
Malinga has five hat-tricks in white-ball cricket
Malinga holds the record for taking the most number of hat-tricks in white-ball cricket (ODIs - 3, T20Is - 2). He is the only bowler to take four wickets from as many consecutive deliveries in both ODI (vs South Africa, March, 2007) and T20I cricket (vs New Zealand, 2019). Malinga has registered a total of two hat-tricks in World Cup (2007 and 2011).
A look at his records in ODI cricket
Malinga remains the fifth-fastest bowler to 300 ODI wickets. He is the second-fastest Sri Lankan after Muttiah Muralitharan to do so. Malinga also has the fourth-most wickets as bowled (104), also the second-most by a Sri Lanka bowler. He has the second-most five-wicket hauls in the format by a Sri Lanka bowler (8), after Muralitharan, who has 10.
Fourth-most wickets in T20 cricket
Malinga finishes with fourth-most wickets in T20 cricket. He took 390 scalps from 295 matches at an amazing average of 19.68. The fast bowler is only behind Dwayne Bravo (540), Imran Tahir (420), and Sunil Narine (411). Malinga has also registered a total of 5 five-wicket hauls in the format. He owns the best T20 figures by a Lankan bowler (6/7).
Leading wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League
Malinga was a prized possession for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. He is the leading wicket-taker in the league, having scalped 170 wickets. He has the best average (19.80) among bowlers with 50 or more IPL matches. Malinga also has the joint-most four-wicket hauls in the tournament along with Narine (6). He is one of the few bowlers with an IPL five-for.
