End of the road for Lasith Malinga?
Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga has stated that he will assess his future in international cricket after the ODI series against India. Hinting at retirement, the bowler said that he will quit the moment his performance drops. "I'll have to reconsider the state of my body, and what is expected of me. If I can't deliver that, then I'll happily retire," he said.
Lasith Malinga, the yorker-king
Separamadu Lasith Malinga is one of the few world-class bowlers produced by Sri Lanka. The Galle-born slinger is known for his "in-swinging yorkers delivered from a round-arm action which is at once distinctive and destructive." Having made his debut in July 2004 in a test against Australia, the flamboyant right-arm pacer was a part of the brilliant Mahela-Sangakkara era.
Malinga's unbeatable triple hat-trick and four-in-four
Lasith Malinga is the only player to have 3 hat-tricks to his name in ODI cricket - vs South Africa in 2007 World Cup, vs Kenya in 2011 World Cup, vs Australia in 2011. Malinga is the only bowler in international cricket to pick up four wickets in four consecutive deliveries (2007 WC against SA- Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, and Makhaya Ntini).
Second-highest wicket taker in T20Is
Lasith Malinga performed his best in shorter formats. He is the second highest wicket taker in T20 Internationals (89), just behind Shahid Afridi (97).
Bowling figures
Owing to knee injury, Malinga prematurely ended his Test career in 2011, having taken 101 wickets in 30 matches. In the ODI format, he has 300 wickets in 203 matches, the fifth quickest to reach the milestone. The Lankan has a staggering seven 5-wicket hauls in ODIs. Only four bowlers are ahead of him - Waqar Younis(13), Muralitharan(10), Brett Lee(9), and Shahid Afridi(9).
Achievements with Sri Lankan team
Malinga was the captain of Sri Lankan team which won the 2014 T20 World Cup. He was part of teams which made it to the finals of 2007, 2011 World Cups, and finals of 2009 T20 WC, and 2012 T20 WC.
