Team sources say fast bowler injured his knee because he was overbowled in Lanka's first Test victory
Team sources say fast bowler injured his knee because he was overbowled in Lanka's first Test victory
Colombo: Lasith Malinga, whose laser-point yorker accuracy undid India in the second innings in the Galle Test, has been ruled out of the second Test starting at Sinhalese Sports Club on Monday.
Aravinda de Silva, convener of selectors said while it was a precautionary measure as the bowler's left knee was stiff from his bowling spell in Galle last Wednesday and Thursday, there is also a hint the problem could be more worrying for Sri Lanka.
Sources close to the side indicate although he is being rested as a "precautionary measure" there is a growing concern that he may have been rushed into the firing line too soon as Sri Lanka were desperate to win the Galle Test, the final one of Muttiah Muralitharan's career. The selectors were playing a hunch from the devastating bowling spells Malinga served up during the Asia Cup.
Now there is a chance he will miss the third Test as well and resume again when the tri-series is held in Dambulla in August where India and New Zealand take on Sri Lanka. As it is, Malinga played a major role in Lanka's 10-wicket victory in the first Test with second innings five-wicket haul.
His dismissals of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar rocked the Indian fightback at a crucial stage. It was argued at the time how Kumar Sangakkara had wanted to bowl him in only five-over spells to keep him fit.
But the spell in which he dismissed Dravid and Tendulkar was seven overs. Also, he was used less sparingly the final day as he was having knee problems at the time.
First signs of trouble ahead emerged when he had to hobble to the team bus before it left for Colombo. It was his first Test in 30 months and now the selectors are worried about his future as a Test bowler.
"I don't want to say this too loudly," confided a team source, "but Malinga should not have been on the field on the last day. He was stiff from his last bowling stint on the fourth afternoon and should have been rested."
De Silva has declined to comment on the suggestions and said the bowler's fitness would be closely monitored up to the third Test, which starts on August 3. He will be assessed after a net session.
With Muralitharan retired and Malinga sidelined with injury, the spin and pace, which earned Sri Lanka that 10-wicket victory, will now have to rely on Ajantha Mendis. Dilhara Fernando is to replace the injured Malinga.
