Lasith Malinga

Unfortunately recurring ankle and knee injuries have continued to blight his career but, as one of the greatest short form bowlers in recent memory, Malinga will be hoping for one last hurrah at the World Cup

The Cricketer | 04/05/2019 at 14:05

Born: August 28, 1983

Role: Right-arm fast

The now 35-year-old seamer is one of Sri Lankan cricket’s most recognisable faces with his distinctive round-arm action and toe-crushing yorkers.

Although no longer as quick as he once was, Malinga’s unique delivery style and pinpoint accuracy have ensured he still retains a reputation as one of the best death bowlers in white-ball cricket.

Malinga became the first and, to date, only bowler to take four wickets in four balls when he dismissed South Africans Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis and Makahya Ntini in a losing effort at the Super Eights stage of the 2007 World Cup, one of his three ODI hat-tricks.

As the spearhead of Sri Lanka’s limited overs attack for many years, Malinga is his country’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in ODIs with 318 scalps and their highest in T20Is with 94 and successfully captained Sri Lanka to their 2014 T20 World Cup triumph over India.

In 2011, Malinga was forced to retire from Test cricket due to a chronic knee injury and he has since spent the following years continuing his white-ball exploits.

Malinga has become an iconic figure in the Indian Premier League having successfully won the tournament twice with the Mumbai Indians franchise and he is currently the tournament’s all-time leading wicket-taker.

SRI LANKA PLAYER PROFILES

Dhananjaya de Silva

Vishwa Fernando

Dimuth Karunaratne