Lanka set to unleash slingshot

He played the ineffectual tour opener at Bangalore and, though he didn’t put up a memorable show, the selectors have long been mindful of his input.

The need here is for Malinga to strike a good length if he hopes to share the new ball with vice-captain Chaminda Vaas. Malinga bowled consistently at nets today, and his pace varied as well.

This is what he needs to do if Sri Lanka hope to gain some advantage from his unusual action, one Jeff Thomson’s. There is, however, a vast difference between the two (as Greg Chappell will testify). Thommo’s delivery was from behind his back as he swung the arm over and the ball was in the batsman’s face at about 150 kmph before he realised it. Malinga has the slingshot style but is more open; he’s been clocked at 148 km/ph, which is fast enough.

Known also as the pocket rocket, Malinga was in the habit of climbing coconut trees before breakfast near his home near Galle. He played soft ball cricket where he learnt how to curve the ball and earned his reputation as a fast bowler in the nets at Galle’s famed Fort Stadium.

Along with his parents and siblings, Tharanga was a victim of last December 26 tsunami devastation, which wrecked so much of the popular holiday regions of South Asia. Brought into the side as part of the team’s rebuilding strategy, he has yet to find a regular place. But Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu needs a partner who can also build totals and put runs on the board, which Gunawardene has failed to do on the Indian surfaces.

This game is one that Sri Lanka need to win to share the series. But they are aware that it will require a lot of hard work. The odds and statistics are stacked against them — Sri Lanka have not won a Test on the subcontinent.