Sri Lanka not depending on past performances against Australia: Lasith Malinga

By CricketCountry Staff

 

Lasith Malinga said Sri Lanka will look to focus on future matches and not rest on past laurels during the upcoming tri-series Down Under.

Lasith Malinga said the past is the past, all we are concerned about is future matches © Getty Images

By CricketCountry Staff

Sydney: Feb 2, 2012

Lasith Malinga said Sri Lanka will look to focus on future matches and not rest on past laurels during the upcoming tri-series Down Under.

“The past is the past, all we are concerned about is future matches … we can’t carry that (past) performance into the future,” Malinga was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.

“Now, the one-day game has become more difficult. Sometimes pace can help but the game has changed. Now you need variation and other things to unsettle the batsmen.”

Malinga praised Brett Lee and said he looking forward to face him during the ODI tournament.

“He’s a good bowler, he can bowl fast any time (because) he is fit enough to. I’m looking forward to every match (we will face each other),” he said. “He’s got a natural action that’s nice and easy. I think he can play another few more years.”

Meanwhile, sacked coach Geoff Marsh backed Sri Lanka to perform on the bouncy Australian pitches.

“I think one thing these guys have done over the last couple of months is play a lot of cricket in South Africa. It’s not like coming from Sri Lanka into Australia, where you come from slow, turning wickets on to Australia’s pacier wickets. I think they’re more acclimatised to it. I think they’ll be more ready for the tour,” Marsh said.

“They’re a very good side. They were World Cup runners-up six months ago. They’ve toured South Africa. You only have to talk to the Australian players about how tough it is to win over there and these boys managed to win a Test match and won the last two one-dayers chasing 300 on both occasions.”