Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga retires from test cricket.

Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga, 27 ,is retiring from tests in a bid to prolong his one-day international career through to the 2015 World cup.


Malinga angered cricket Sri Lanka by ruling himself out of the England tour with a knee injury , while continuing to play in the IPL.


But he insists that while his knee can stand up to one-day and 20-overs game,it cannot cope with five-day Tests.


"The heavy workload of Tests could lead to permanent injury," he said.


The right-armer has played only two Tests since England's tour of Sri lanka in December 2007 , both against India last year , but has fashioned himself as a one-day and Twenty20 specialist, taking 13 wickets as sri lanka reached the final of the 2011 World Cup.

"I have realized that the heavy workload of Test cricket, which requires a fast bowler to be able to bowl more than 15 overs, something on consecutive days, could lead to permanent injury.


"I have carefully considered my option and have decided that not playing test cricket will help me achieve my goal of representing Sri Lanka in the 2012 World T-20 and the 2015 World cup"

Malinga made his international debut in 2004, and took four wickets in four balls against South Africa at the 2007 World Cup, the first time it had been done in international cricket history.


LASITH MALINGA FACTFILE
                       
. Born: 28 August 1983,
Galle, Sri Lanka       
                       
.Test: 30 matches,101  
wickets @33.15 ,       
best 5-50              
                       
.Oneday internationals:
84 matches ,127 wickets
@26.38,best 6-38       
                       
.T-20 internationals:  
29 matches,35 wickets @
20.80, best 3-12