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Balance the use of pacemen
Lasitha Malinga is the latest name to be added onto the list of pacemen to represent Sri Lanka. Virtually plucked out of school cricket Malinga has tasted instant success.

He came across an assisting surface in his first game against Australia and made good use of the opportunity. Australia has the best batting line-up in the world, so full credit to the young quickie for that performance. He does not yet know of the pressure and toughness of international cricket. He went out a Darwin determined to do his best and it all fell into place.

It was somewhat different in Cairns. The pitch was more easy paced. Particularly when it came to Australia's second innings Malinga's effectiveness had reduced.

What also makes this youngster different to other pace men is his round arm slinging action. It is very uncommon in the game. Perhaps the most famous bowler with such an action was Australian Jeff Thompson. His was purely a slinging action and not round arm. In his younger days the pace he generated was phenomenal. He was the first bowler to deliver at 100 m.p.h. The most significant feature of these bowlers is the element of surprise. Rumesh Ratnayake also bowled with a slinging action. He has hit and drawn blood out of many famous players. Batsmen take a longer time to workout a bowler whose action is different. Of course there is plenty of video footage available and international players spend plenty of time watching their opponents trying to learn something, anything, they can to help counter them.

The next issue about bowling with a square round arm action is the possibility of sustaining injury. It is not the smooth flow of a classical action. For a paceman, Malinga is of average build. This makes it all a huge strain on the body particularly the back.

For one, he has to do a lot more work to strengthen his frame. On the other hand the selectors and team management have to use him strategically so as not to over bowl him and space out his bowling workload.

This department looked very promising for Sri Lanka some three years ago. There was Chaminda Vaas reaching his peak spear heading, Nuwan Soysa being able to deliver gaining bounce and movement, Dilhara Fernando quick by international standard. To give support, Ruchira Perera, Suresh Perera and Charitha Buddhika. Prabath Nissanka have shown tremendous potential. Two other youngsters Kaushal Weeraratne and Akalanka Ganagegama also looked promising.

During this period all but the reliable workhorse Chaminda Vaas, have suffered injury and been out of the game for considerable periods of time. Four or five others have had the fortune of wearing the Sri Lanka cap and using the new ball. Most are not in contention now.

The sub-continent is no easy part of the world to bowl quick on a regular basis. At the highest level they are now required to be on call for ten months of the year to make it even tougher.

There should be six pace men in contention, able to go out and perform against the best players in the world. They must be used in a manner which will bring the best out of them and thereby the team is benefited. I would not have exposed Lasitha Malinga in the Asia Cup. Rather keep him fresh for the two test series against South Africa which commences on August fourth.

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