Malinga quits Test cricket
Sri Lanka bowler Lasith Malinga has announced his retirement from Test cricket.
The 27-year-old released a statement on Friday revealing a "degenerative condition" in his right knee had forced him to call an end to his five-day career.
The right-armer will remain available for Sri Lanka's one-day and Twenty20 international teams as he aims to prolong his career to play in the 2015 World Cup in Australia.
Malinga's retirement comes just days after Sri Lanka's new selection committee requested he return home from the Indian Premier League after making himself unavailable for the upcoming Test series against England. Malinga has been playing for the Mumbai Indians but ruled himself out of the three-Test series because of injury.
His retirement helps to clarify the reasons behind his decision, with his statement revealing a knee injury he suffered in Australia in 2008 had prevented him from playing Test cricket. Since suffering the injury Malinga has played just two Tests, against India last year, but was forced to miss the third match due to soreness.
"Although I am sufficiently fit to play both ODI and T20 cricket, I have a long-standing degenerative condition in my right knee that needs to be carefully managed," Malinga said. "The condition relates directly to the chronic knee injury I sustained playing for Sri Lanka in Australia back in February 2008, an injury that prevented me from playing ODI cricket for 16 months.
"The injury was career-threatening and my orthopaedic surgeon was of the opinion that, given his experience with other professional athletes in Australia, I was very fortunate to play again. I have since been advised by the national team physiotherapist and my orthopaedic consultant that my condition will deteriorate when fielding or bowling for prolonged periods.
"I did try to return to Test cricket after a three-year absence last year [against India] following requests from the team management and the selectors, but it left me unfit nursing severe knee pain for two months.
"I have realised that the heavy workload of Test cricket, which requires a fast bowler to be able to bowl more than 15 overs, sometimes on consecutive days, could lead to permanent injury.
"I have carefully considered my options and have decided that not playing Test cricket will help me achieve my goal of representing Sri Lanka in the 2012 World Twenty20 and the 2015 World Cup."
