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GEORGETOWN, Guyana - New Zealand's batsmen will sleep easier ahead of tomorrow's World Cup cricket clash with Sri Lanka after fast bowler Lasith Malinga was today ruled out through an ankle injury.
The often unplayable fast bowler with the round arm action will not be bamboozling the Black Caps at the Grenada National Stadium tomorrow (1.30am Friday NZT) after he failed to complete training today.
Scans on the tournament's equal leading wicket taker (15 at 14.26) revealed a grade two tear in a left ankle ligament yesterday. He tested the heavily strapped joint briefly today, but was well below optimum pace.
The New Zealand camp today welcomed the news, with spinner Daniel Vettori more than happy not to be facing Malinga.
"Do you see the smile on my face? I think we'll all be comfortable with that," Vettori said.
In another potential setback for the 1996 champions, Malinga could also be in doubt for Sri Lanka's penultimate Super Eights clash with Australia here on Monday.
New Zealand has been issuing regular injury bulletins in the West Indies, but have practically a clean bill of health for their Sri Lankan match.
Ross Taylor should return for a clash that will confirm the Black Caps as the first semifinalists should they extend their unbeaten Cup record to seven games.
Malinga's unavailability should make that task easier, considering he has proved capable of creating havoc among the Black Caps' batting order during tours to New Zealand over the past two summers.
The right armer, who delivers the ball from a low trajectory in front of the umpire, may not boast amazing ODI figures against New Zealand -- eight wickets at 24.57 -- but he is prone to producing an occasional spell of sandshoe crushing mayhem.
His best bowling figures against New Zealand are the three for 14 he snared at Eden Park in January -- and it was no coincidence that return dovetailed with the home side being routed for 73, their second lowest score in one-day internationals.
Jacob Oram was absent injured for that 189-run loss, which enabled the Sri Lankans to square their latest series 2-2, but was well aware of the dangers Malinga poses in tandem with wily spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and medium-fast veteran Chaminda Vaas.
"Someone like Malinga is either not really in the game or he is the game. He's the guy breaking the game wide open," Oram said.
South Africa discovered that, almost to their cost, in Guyana last month when Malinga created cricket history by becoming the first bowler to take four wickets in consecutive balls -- a feat that instantly transformed his figures to four for 54.
The Proteas clung on win by a wicket but the spell still reverberated though the Caribbean.
"I've haven't faced him much but speaking to other guys, they find him a bit easier with the white ball and, strangely enough, the newer white ball," Oram said.
"He gets almost unplayable when he gets that reverse (swing) going. Where he delivers the ball from, it's so hard to get under him when you're trying to hit at the end of an innings.
"He's got that yorker pretty much on tap."
Muralitharan, who has taken 12 wickets at 18.75, was classed in the same tricky category and will play after recovering from a groin strain.
"Murali's the same, so out of the box you've got to know your game plan.
"If you're umming and ahhing, trying to work it out while you're out there you're probably a second too late," the allrounder said.
However, Oram also noted Muralitharan was not a permanent problem for the Black Caps: "We've had our successes as well."
During their warm-up game in Barbados on March 9, Muralitharan took one for 64 from his 10 overs, although he raised his game in the tournament proper and is in a three-way tie with Vettori and Australian Brad Hogg as the competition's most prolific slow bowler.
The trio each have a dozen scalps.
Oram said while Muralitharan would obviously be respected, the batsmen were mindful of not being too circumspect.
"We have to be positive and take what we can, you've still got to look to score," he said.
Malinga will replaced by either Farveez Maharoof and Nuwan Kulasekara.
Meanwhile, New Zealand are ready to restore Taylor at the expense of Hamish Marshall for the first time since he strained a hamstring against Kenya on March 20. The only selection issue is whether to retain Jeetan Patel or employ a new seamer for Michael Mason, who is still sidelined with a calf strain.
New Zealand, with eight points, lead the competition on net run rate from Australia. Sri Lanka (6) are also well placed to make the semifinals while South Africa (6) round out the top four.
- NZPA
