Sri Lankan fast bowler renowned for his distinctive round-arm bowling action and deadly yorkers, particularly in limited-overs cricket formats.
Lasith Malinga is Sri Lanka's greatest fast bowler and one of the most unique cricketers ever, famous for his round-arm slingy action and deadly yorker. He is the only bowler to take four wickets in four consecutive balls in international cricket, achieving this feat twice. His mastery of the toe-crushing yorker made him virtually unplayable in death overs, and he was central to Sri Lanka's 2014 World T20 triumph.
Taking four wickets in four consecutive balls against South Africa in the 2007 Cricket World Cup, achieving the rare feat of a double hat-trick in international cricket.
How They Played
Malinga bowled with a unique sling-arm action that made him virtually unplayable at times, especially in limited-overs cricket. He was renowned as one of the best death bowlers in the world, specializing in yorkers and slower ball variations that bamboozled batsmen in the final overs. His unusual action and ability to bowl consistently at the base of the stumps made him a nightmare for batsmen trying to score boundaries.
Lasting Impact
Malinga revolutionized fast bowling with his unconventional action and set new standards for death bowling in limited-overs cricket. His success inspired a generation of bowlers to develop variations and proved that unorthodox techniques could be highly effective at the highest level.
Career Honours
- ICC Cricket World Cup 2014 (T20, Sri Lanka)
- ICC World Twenty20 2010 finalist (Sri Lanka)
- IPL Champion 2013 (Mumbai Indians)
- IPL Champion 2015 (Mumbai Indians)
- IPL Champion 2017 (Mumbai Indians)
- IPL Champion 2019 (Mumbai Indians)
- ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 semi-finalist (Sri Lanka)
- Asia Cup 2014 (Sri Lanka)
- Asia Cup 2008 (Sri Lanka)
- Champions League T20 2011 (Mumbai Indians)
- ICC World Twenty20 2009 finalist (Sri Lanka)
| Club | Period | Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinhalese Sports Club | 2004–2019 | 87 | 461 |
| Mumbai Indians | 2009–2019 | 122 | 170 |