Must fix mentality to start winning again: Malinga
Sri Lanka pace spearhead Lasith Malinga believes the team will have to toughen up and execute better if it wants to compete against India in an ODI series the hosts trail 3-0 with two games left.
Malinga, one short of the 300wicket mark but tasked with leading the team for Thursday’s fourth one-dayer at the Premadasa Stadium, said Sri Lanka still had the depth to bounce back.
“There’s no shortage of talent and skill in our team, but there is a shortcoming in how we execute that. We need to fix our mentality,” Malinga said on the match eve. My main goal is to try and instill a mentality whereby players are able to deal with tough situations and persevere. If that is successful, we will be able to get a good result tomorrow.”
Sri Lanka cricket is in crisis. After the third ODI in Pallekele ended with fans throwing bottles into the ground to express their angst, the selection committee headed by former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya tendered its resignation.
On the eve of the match, interim coach, Nic Pothas, was in a long conversation with SLC president, Thilanga Sumathipala, at the stadium. Malinga and team manager, Asanka Gurusinha, who also quit as selector, joined in after a while.
Malinga said: “I feel captaincy is a good challenge for me. At the moment, we have lost a few matches, yes.
Lasith Malinga has laboured for wickets since his comeback and former India pacer Zaheer Khan is among those he has turned to for inputs.
The two have played for Mumbai Indians. Malinga, who turned 34 on Monday, said he wants to talk to experts like Zaheer as he seeks to reinvent himself.
The two were involved in a chat before the third ODI and he was asked about it on Wednesday. Zaheer is doing commentary here.
“I played with him in the IPL 3-5 years. He is a legend. We always talk with so many bowlers around the world. When I meet them I want to get (to talk to them about) their experience also,” Malinga said.
“I have played for the last 14 years for the national team, and I still feel we have good young players, and a few experienced players also. This is the time we have to stand up and give confidence to young players, that still we are good enough to play international cricket. People think we are not top of the table, but we can change that.”
Lasith Malinga has been under fire since ending a long injury-forced layoff to return for the ICC Champions Trophy in June in England. However, he defended his measly returns, having taken just one wicket in three games.
“I didn’t play for 19 months
“Because they are in the commentary box, they look at every body movement and my bowling action, and how I swing the ball. They have a good idea of how I’m going now. So we speak about how I have to improve.”
“Zak is more of a seam and swing bowler, and I want to learn more of that kind of thing over the next few years. That’s what I talked with him.” HTC
because of injury. I’ve only played a couple of series since then. Now I feel I am getting better. Everyone knows how major my leg injuries are. Now I feel comfortable to bowl 10 overs.
“As a bowler I’ve not been able to get wickets in the last couple of series. A lot of people have talked about that.
“In fact, there has been more talk in the last couple of months than in the previous 14 years. (But) I’m used to that.”
Malinga said he was not fretting about his impending milestone. I have no special aim to get 300 wickets. I play to get wickets in every match. I’m ready to play until 2023.”