Cricket: Tormentor out of test

COLOMBO - The absence of a long-time tormentor and the potential non-selection of a recently emerged nuisance for Sri Lanka's initial test line-up has eased New Zealand's anxieties ahead of the first test in Galle on Tuesday.

By deeming Lasith Malinga not ready to return to five-day cricket, Sri Lanka removed one impediment to New Zealand at least gaining parity when the two-test series starts at the Galle International Stadium.

Malinga's unorthodox action has inflicted physical and psychological damage on New Zealand batsmen since his low-slung, toe-crushing yorker was first sighted, vaguely, at McLean Park in 2005.

That deceptive shock, stock delivery formed the crux of a nine-wicket haul that remains the leading match analysis of his 28-test career.

Panic immediately spread through Stephen Fleming's ranks in Napier. In desperation, Fleming begged the umpires to tie sweaters around their midriffs - a mini-sight screen to help the batsmen decipher exactly where the ball was coming from when flung from waist height.

Malinga has never been quite as destructive in his three subsequent tests in New Zealand, the scene of both his five-wicket hauls. Those 20 wickets at 27.10 still compare favourably with his career average.

Thankfully for New Zealand's inexperienced top order, the 25-year-old won't enhance those figures. Next month's limited overs formats will be the extent of Malinga's involvement as he is coaxed back from a career-threatening injury.

An inflamed right knee sidelined him in 2008 and the formative stages of this season. His comeback has been closely regulated and fairly unremarkable - Malinga was not required for Sri Lanka's 2-0 defeat of Pakistan last month. When he was reinstated for three matches of the one-day series he took just one wicket while conceding 166 runs.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori confessed Malinga's non-appearance offered "an element of relief".

"I think the guys were starting to get used to him but he's still a quality bowler and most teams have had issues with him at some stage."

While the New Zealand's experienced core might be familiar with Malinga, Tim McIntosh, Daniel Flynn and Jesse Ryder would have ventured to the middle at Galle with video analysis as their sole preparation.

And McIntosh's opening partner Martin Guptill has seen Malinga at close range for only three overs - during New Zealand's elimination from the ICC World Twenty20 at Nottingham in June.

That sorry end to an underwhelming campaign also served as New Zealand's first encounter with Ajantha Mendis, the spinning phenomenon Vettori has sought to counter by co-opting former Pakistani international Saqlain Mushtaq to the coaching staff.

Mendis offered up 18 bamboozling balls to New Zealand's flailing batsmen at Trent Bridge and took three wickets for nine runs - a chilling analysis considering Twenty20s batter-friendly format.

Mendis, who burst on to the test scene when tying India's formidable batting unit in knots, regressed against Pakistan - five wickets at 43.40 saw him omitted from the final test.

The faltering form of Mendis - who snared 34 wickets in his first six tests - is not the only factor jeopardising his inclusion in the Sri Lankan 11. His mentor, a certain Muttiah Muralitharan, is poised to advance his world record test wicket tally of 770 after missing the Pakistan series with a dicky knee.

Given Muralitharan and Mendis are right-arm offies, journeyman Ragana Herath is expected to form a slow bowling point of difference.

The 31-year-old left arm orthodox, who usually plies his trade in England's Staffordshire League, certainly warrants retention after invigorating his intermittent 17-test career when summoned home as Muralitharan's replacement against the Pakistanis.

Rarely sighted since debuting against Steve Waugh's Australians in 1999, Herath was a surprising success. His four for 15 at Galle enabled Sri Lanka to win by 50 runs - the first phase of their maiden test series victory over Pakistan on home soil.

Herath ended a breakthrough series with 15 wickets at 26.93 though Vettori sensed he would be easier to combat than the unpredictable Mendis.

"The guys are pretty familiar with him through A tours. He's not as daunting as a Mendis or a Muralitharan because you know what you're getting with him."

- NZPA