'Malinga the Slinga' bids adieu to ODIs but his unique bowling remains mystery for many batsmen
Malinga bids adieu to ODIs
Sri Lanka's unorthodox fast bowler Lasith Malinga played his last international game against Bangladesh at PR Stadium on July 26.
In his last ODI Malinga returned to the figure of 3-38 in his 9.4 overs.
"I feel it's the right time for me to retire from ODIs. I have been playing for the last 15 years for Sri Lanka and this is the right time to move on," Malinga said after the game.
'My time is over,' says Malinga
Malinga featured in 329 international games for Sri Lanka where he scalped 536 wickets. In his 15-year-long cricketing career, the bowler remained in highlight for his action, unique hairstyle, and moreover for his bowling.
"My time is over and I have to go," said Malinga after his last ODI match.
Malinga's career started in 2004
The 35-year-old made his debut against Australia in Test cricket in 2004.
In the same year, he played his maiden ODI against the UAE at Dambulla.
Malinga's T20 debut came against England at Southhampton.
The pacer had retired from Test cricket in 2010, but he had continued to play other formats since then.
'I tried my best that's why I succeeded,' says Malinga
"The captain expected me to take a wicket throughout my career... I tried my best that's why I succeeded. You have to be yourself," said the pacer.
Malinga finished with 338 wickets from 226 ODIs for Sri Lanka, the third-highest for the island country behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas.
He is third in the list of most successful bowlers in the history of the World Cup with 56 scalps.
He is the only bowler to have taken 3 ODI hat-tricks
Malinga has taken three ODI hat-tricks and the only player to have achieved the milestone twice during a World Cup.
He attained a career-high points tally of 675 after a memorable spell of three for 22 against Bangladesh in Colombo on July 2007.
His highest ranking was seventh in November 2011, achieved against Pakistan in Dubai.
Brilliant performance in CWC19
Malinga was the team's highest wicket-taker in the recently concluded ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.
He took 13 wickets in the tournament from seven innings.
Malinga's action remains a mystery
Malinga is still a mystery for many batsmen as he has the ability to ball toe-breaking yorkers and also the slower deliveries with the same action and run-up.
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