Law doesn’t blame Malinga for choosing ‘lucrative’ IPL over Test cricket
April 30th, 2011 - 5:23 pm ICT by ANIColombo, Apr 30(ANI): Sri Lanka’s interim coach Stuart Law has said that he does not hold any grudges over fast bowler Lasith Malinga’s decision to quit Test cricket and to continue playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite a chronic knee condition.
“It’s a tough one for the players because we’re not talking about 10,000 dollars here and there. We’re talking about a million dollars and Malinga, when he bowls, he puts his body through hell, so two more years of IPL cricket and he can put his feet up and not go through that pain again,” the Age quoted Law, as saying.
“It’s disappointing that he doesn’t want to play [the] longer [format cricket], but you can’t make a guy who goes through hell every time he bowls a cricket ball. I can sympathize with him. I would love him to play every game for us, but that’s impossible, no one does that these days,” he added.
Law further said that he is excited about rebuilding the Sri Lankan team with an aggressive new leader in Tillakaratne Dilshan.
“Sri Lanka will go through a rebuilding phase now, but the amount of talent that is yet to play international cricket at this stage is amazing,” Law said.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had appointed Law as coach following Trevor Bayliss’ decision to leave the post.
The 42-year-old had been assisting Bayliss since 2009.
Sri Lanka tour England from May 26 to July 9 for three Test matches and five one-day internationals. (ANI)
- Stuart Law named Sri Lanka coach for tour of England - Apr 07, 2011
- Dilshan to join Sri Lanka squad in England - May 02, 2011
- Series against England toughest on earth: Sri Lanka coach - May 25, 2011
- Sri Lanka squad for Australia ODIs, Twenty20 announced - Jul 21, 2011
- Sri Lankan cricketers agree to return home early for England tour - Apr 20, 2011
- Malinga's decision to play in lucrative IPL, but not Tests 'awkward': Duleep Mendis - Apr 21, 2011
- Malinga claims hat-trick as Sri Lanka crush Kenya (Second Lead) - Mar 02, 2011
- Australian pacers can trouble Sri Lanka: Coach Bayliss - Mar 02, 2011
- Sri Lanka opt to bat against Canada - Feb 20, 2011
- Sri Lankan cricketers will be monitored during England tour - May 18, 2011
- 'Class players' make Sri Lanka one of the best Twenty20 teams: White - Oct 30, 2010
- Geoff Marsh ends IPL stint to coach Sri Lanka - Sep 23, 2011
- Oz pacers will enjoy bounce of Colombo pitch: Lankan coach - Mar 02, 2011
- Asia Cup: Eranga replaces Matthews in Sri Lanka squad - Mar 14, 2012
- Malinga says 'quick' money not behind decision to quit Test cricket - Apr 27, 2011
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