{ "id": "48361", "author": "1", "cnmid": "0", "title": "Lasith Malinga backs bowlers for big influence", "lang": "en", "series": "308", "cup_year": "2019", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "May 28 (CRICKETNMORE) -\u00a0Runs are flowing more than ever in one-day cricket but Sri Lanka\u2019s Lasith Malinga believes bowlers still hold the key in the ICC Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup 2019. Batting has ", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

May 28 (CRICKETNMORE) - Runs are flowing more than ever in one-day cricket but Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga believes bowlers still hold the key in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Batting has hit new heights across the 50-over game with ten totals of 400+ scored since the start of 2014 – the same number registered in the previous 43 years of the format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Master blasters and superb strikers are therefore backed for a big role across England & Wales, but Malinga is hopeful those with ball in hand can wrestle back the advantage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

A delayed arrival means the 35-year-old did not feature in Sri Lanka’s warm-up matches but with just six bowlers boasting more than his 43 World Cup wickets, he knows better than most what it takes to stop the batsmen in their stride.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“Cricket is going towards the batsmen but bowlers can change the game, they get the wickets and that wins a match,” he said following Sri Lanka’s defeat to Australia at the Hampshire Bowl.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“Whoever has the skilful bowlers, in any condition on any pitch, will have the advantage in the team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“Bowlers need to have a skill, then know how to analyse a game. They need to improve as quickly as they can and get confidence from their performances.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“In the last couple of years, I have worked on the variations and it boosts confidence, but situation analysis is very important.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“The team expects and I expect in myself to know how to do this, if I want to be a match-winner I need to take wickets and if I feel that’s a slower ball, I go for it. I have good confidence to bowl it.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Malinga watched on as his Sri Lanka side, led by captain Dimuth Karunaratne, lost out to Australia by five wickets in their second and final warm-up game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Batting first on a wicket offering spin, Sri Lanka made 239\/8 from their 50 overs only for Aaron Finch’s side to chase down the target with five overs to spare to follow up victory over England.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Australia are among the favourites for the tournament having won the World Cup four years ago but Malinga, twice a runner-up in 2007 and 2011, knows nothing can be ruled out at this early stage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n

He added: “We can’t tell before the tournament who is going to be best. From experience, the underdog beating the best team in the world is possible.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“Australia have very good players, match-winning players and that’s a very important thing, they’re high in the rankings and I feel they’re one of the favourites in the competition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“We know we come to England in bouncy pitches, we are prepared and we’ve played in the conditions quite a lot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“In England, Australia and New Zealand you expect those conditions, so it’s not a big deal to us. All the players are prepared for the pitches.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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