Jayawardene says Sri Lanka won’t risk Malinga’s career by playing him in Tests

Sydney: Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has claimed they won’t risk fast bowler Lasith Malinga’s limited over career by playing him in the Test format despite former Australia quick Rodney Hogg branding touring team’s new ball attack ahead of the first Test match in Hobart as worst ever. Malinga bagged the second best T20 figures of all time in a major domestic tournament, 6-7, in the Melbourne Stars`` Big Bash league victory over Perth at the WACA on Wednesday, but Jayawardene is against any idea of the slinger playing in Tests.

“I think with the injuries he``s had in the last few years, it``s pretty unfair of us to ask him to come and play Test cricket. If he feels he is 100 per cent he``ll probably make that call by himself,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Jayawardene, as saying. “Every time he picks up wickets in a one-dayer or a T20, everyone seems to be putting their hand up and saying he should be playing Test cricket. But three or four years back, everyone thought his career was finished,” he added. Malinga missed 18 months of cricket with the knee injury that eventually resulted in him quitting Tests in 2010 and his sheer pace will be missed by Sri Lanka in Australian conditions, but Jayawardene is happy just to have him in his limited overs sides. “Do we risk all that by getting him to play Test cricket? Test cricket is about bowling 25 overs. We saw what Siddle did the other week - he bowled 60,” Jayawardene said. “Can Malinga do that? I don``t think so. I don``t think we need to make that call and risk his career,” he added. ANI