Sri Lanka Cricket / Editor / 11 April 2007 / Leave a comment

Sri Lanka have been hit by the news that Lasith Malinga will miss the clash with New Zealand on Thursday and could be sidelined for the rest of their Super 8 campaign.

The 23-year-old slinger missed training on Tuesday and, although Sri Lanka originally thought the problem was not too serious, tests have revealed that he has suffered a grade two tear in his left ankle and will require 7-14 days rest.

Malinga's absence will not only be a blow to Sri Lanka but also to those punters who have backed him to finish as the World Cup's top wicket-taker. He currently leads the charts, along with Australia's Glenn McGrath, after taking 15 wickets in six games but now looks set to miss the next three matches.

Malinga has definitely been ruled of the clash with the Black Caps on Thursday and is almost certain to sit out the game with McGrath's Australia on Monday. It also remains touch and go as to whether he will be back for Sri Lanka's final Super 8 clash with minnows Ireland next Wednesday.

Having been matched previously at a low of 2.62, the Sri Lanka paceman has drifted out to 7.6, with McGrath now a clear favourite at 3.74 ahead of Malinga's team-mate Muttiah Muralitharan, who has 12 victims so far, at 5.

Either Farveez Maharoof or Nuwan Kulasekara is set to come into the team but Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene is confident they will not let the side down and is not unduly worried by the threat that the unbeaten Kiwis pose.

"We've got experienced players who can come in and we are confident they can do a job for us," Mahela Jayawardene told AFP. "It depends on how much of a gamble we want to take at this stage.

"They (New Zealand) are playing some really good cricket but they haven't played one of the top teams yet.

"They've got a very good all-round side and bat until deep. We've played them a lot in the last 12 months and we know their strengths and weaknesses."

There is nothing to separate the two sides, who drew 2-2 in a one-day international series in New Zealand in December, in the match odds market with both last matched at 2.