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Sangakkara, Jayawardene support Malinga's decision
ESPNcricinfo staff
April 24, 2011
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Former Sri Lankan captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have backed fast bowler Lasith Malinga's decision to quit Tests on account of a degenerative knee condition. Malinga announced his retirement last week, when the Sri Lankan board questioned his participation in the IPL after withdrawing from the upcoming England Tests citing fitness issues. Sangakkara pointed out that Malinga's decision was best for the team, while Jayawardene said it was the right call from a personal point of view.
"We were all well aware of the seriousness of his knee condition and while I was captain we tried to manage him as carefully and sensitively as possible during the past couple of years," Sangakkara wrote in his column in the Times of India. "We obviously wanted him to play Tests, but when we asked him to play the India tour it took him two months to physically recover from that."
Sangakkara revealed that Malinga's future was one of the issues he had discussed with the Sri Lankan board while stepping down from captaincy. "The truth is that Lasith is our best fast bowler in limited-overs cricket right now," Sangakkara wrote. "If we forced him to play Tests we would be running the risk of losing him completely. That would be a tragedy for Sri Lanka, undermining both the ODI and T20 teams."
Sangakkara dismissed suggestions that Malinga chose to quit Tests in order to extend his participation in the lucrative IPL. "Malinga has always given his best as a national cricketer. Had it not been for his knee problem he would definitely want to play Tests. I fully support his decision and hope that as a result of it we see him playing for a few more years."
Jayawardene, who was in charge of the Sri Lankan side before Sangakkara took over said it was unfair to criticise Malinga's decision. "Given the state of his knee condition, there is no point in him taking the risk of playing Test cricket," Jayawardene wrote in the same newspaper. "If he breaks down then it will be bad for Sri Lanka. We want him playing for us as long as possible. Some people have criticised the decision, arguing that he is being selfish. This short-sighted argument is very unfair given that he clearly has a chronic knee problem.
"Lasith is a human being and, while he is totally committed to Sri Lanka, he also has responsibilities as a husband and, one day hopefully, a father. If his career is ended by injury, who is going to look after him and his family? When he suffered the injury the first time he was stripped of his central contract within about six months and left with no income.
"Any individual in any profession has to consider their personal and family interests when they make big decisions in their life. Why should a professional cricketer be any different? We need to support him and protect him. He is a natural match-winner and a great asset for Sri Lanka. We should be grateful for his services and help him look after himself."
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Anybody can gets injured during play in any format. so You both also will be helpless if you get injured. Because You both also have families.So, what you can do is give up playing risk full cricket & play CHES at home. Then you will be safe & you will be able to take care your families. Great former SKIPPERS.... Don't be JOKERS..
Posted byWell said Sir I can see that both of you are human.
Posted by bobagorof on (April 27, 2011, 1:08 GMT)Rici737, what on earth are you on about? Yes, Test cricket goes for 5 days, what's your point? There used to be 'timeless Tests' that would be played until both sides had been dismissed twice - some matches went 10 days or more. It's since been standardised to 5 days maximum. In years gone by the matches were very well attended. Unfortunately there are lots more avenues for entertainment these days with TV and internet. Now, if Malinga or any other player doesn't think they can play for 5 consecutive days due to an injury, then so be it. In a previous article I commented that Malinga should retire from Tests (because he withdrew from selection but then played in IPL), and a day later he did. Good for him. I hope he is able to continue playing shorter forms and earning an income and helping Sri Lanka win matches.
Posted by stormy16 on (April 26, 2011, 18:18 GMT)I am not sure why some us are all over the place with Malinga. If you know the facts you would know he was injured and was hung to dry by SLC who now want to tell him what to do - for crying out aloud he was stripped of his central contract and SLC did little to help in his recovery. When he did recover and made himself unavailble for the test cricket and the selectors (De Silva) threw their hands up stating they dont understand why players make themselves unavailable for games. Most of us understand he cant play test cricket and he is doing the smart thing by playing the shorter version and ensuring he has some future in the game. I say good one you Malinga - stuff the rest.
Posted byThanks Sanga & Mahela ..comment. We love "SLINGA" , HE IS GREAT. Good Luck! Good Health!. We love Mahela & Sanga too. U both r great too. We love to see u all soon play cricket for SL. We r proud of u alll who r playing IPL. Keep it up. We watch IPL coz of u all
Posted by Rici737 on (April 26, 2011, 15:37 GMT)Cricket & Jealousy
Leave Malinga in Peace. Individuals with jealousy criticise his decision. Instead of criticising Malinga try to be the next Salinga Malinga then you can make money too.
Group of people had created a game called Test Cricket. It goes FIVE consecutive days. Is it advisable to follow this Test Cricket for developing nation? Ok Ok, people with no jobs, nothing to do during the day will pursue this Test Cricket. Let's imagine, if the white man had created this game for TEN consecutive days. Nations will get bankrupt because of Test Cricket.
Posted byYou should allow Malinga to take his decision as he knows well about his own injury then anyone in the world except god. He should be allowed to play the 50 overs and 20 over games so please leave him alone on the test issue.
Posted by Avidcricketlover on (April 25, 2011, 20:51 GMT)For all those with patriotic sledge, please resign your jobs and join your respective nation's armies !!!
He has a family to support and if injured, no pays to see him !!!
Let him make his future while we comfortably earn and speak all rubbish while someone truly patriotic never gets to watch any of these and suffers in the border !! I don't deserve to speak about a patriotic sledge on a sport !! I hope many here doesn't too !! Its all but a sport !!
Let him play !! be it Mumbai or Sri lanka !! Who cares !!
Posted by area1985 on (April 25, 2011, 15:24 GMT)The theme name should change sanga and mahela back ipl,, sure they have no reason to back a decision of a individual,, its ipl people who desperate for this statement
Posted byWell done Sanga & mahela !!!!!!!!! Yeh Malinga is the our Best Bowler we have So Badly we should Protect him>.......