Sri Lanka’s one of the best bowlers Lasith Malinga turned 34 on Monday and he seems to be in a confused state regarding his retirement. He has been finding difficulty in taking wickets since his international comeback after a year-and-half. There are many comments on Malinga’s bowling speed that the speed has dropped and the batsmen are hitting like never before.
Admitting that his speed has dropped in the past few years, Malinga didn’t shy away from revealing that he wants to talk to experts like Zaheer as he seeks to reinvent himself. Thus, former India cricket team pacer Zaheer Khan is among those he has turned to for inputs. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has helped the players across nationalities bond and two have played for Mumbai Indians.
The 2007 Test series in England was historic for India. For the first time after 1986, they beat the hosts in Blight. The series also proved to be a turning point in Jimmy Anderson’s career despite finishing on the losing side. Talking to Zaheer Khan and learning the intricacies of reverse swing gave the Lancastrian an X-factor.
Last year, the England great was asked how he learned about hiding the ball. “From Zaheer Khan. We found it really difficult to face (during the 2007 series),” the fast bowler had said. That Anderson became India’s tormentor-in-chief, bowling reverse swing, during the 2012 series in the subcontinent is a different story, but Zaheer’s mentoring qualities are revered in Indian cricket and worldwide.
Thus, Malinga decided to take few bits of advice regarding his performance and necessary inputs to improve. “I played with him in the IPL 3-5 years. He is a legend of the Indian bowling attack. 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.
The duo was spotted chatting with each other before the third ODI in Pallekele and Malinga reportedly sought Zaheer’s opinion in preparation for leading the team in the fourth ODI at the Premadasa Stadium.
“Because they are in the commentary box, they look at every single body movement of mine and my bowling action, and how I swing the ball. They have a good idea of how I’m going now. So, every time I have an opportunity, we speak about my bowling action and how I have to improve,” added Malinga.
“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. I’ve played international and franchise cricket the last 14 years. Now I’m 34. My pace is down. If you had asked me 10 years ago, I didn’t expect this. But whoever is coming towards the end of their careers, there will be a failure. People talk about them not being fit enough, or not picking him,” he said.
Lasith Malinga is one shot back to become the fourth Sri Lankan bowler to complete 300 wickets in ODI cricket. Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, and Sanath Jayasuriya have gone past that landmark. But mentoring is not a one-way street. Jasprit Bumrah acknowledged after his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs in the third match how Lasith Malinga has guided him since he joined Mumbai Indians.
At the moment, Malinga is taking it step by step. After returning to the fold, the primary target was to bowl 10 overs and not break down. He now feels comfortable doing that. But wickets are not coming. He is going in this series at an average of 126.00, with only one wicket from three matches. He said there was no special aim. More important, rather, would be his transition that can keep him in top-flight cricket till 2023.
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