Dubai: All the players from Sri Lanka are performing well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to their correct technique said Shadeep Silva, the winner of UAE's best bowler award in the Shyam Bhatia annual award for top performers in domestic cricket.
"We do not have many Twenty20 tournaments in Sri Lanka but our schools tournaments are two-day matches. This helps us to learn the basics correctly and in Twenty20 you need to know your basics well to modify your shots," remarked Silva, who played for Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club, Sebsastianites Cricket Club and Singha Sports Club along with Test stars in Sri Lanka's domestic cricket before coming to UAE.
"Lasith Malinga's decision to quit Test cricket to prolong his international career is the right one. His action is such that it puts a lot of pressure on his knees and by opting to play only in One-day and Twenty20 matches we can get to see him in action for longer span," added Silva, who bowled UAE to victory in the recent World Twenty20 League with his left-arm spin.
"Malinga has taken the wickets of his former captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in the IPL because he regularly bowls to them in the practice nets and know their defects. You need unusual bowlers like Malinga and Ajantha Mendis in Twenty20 cricket where any regular bowler can be thrashed," said the Kochi Tuskers supporter.
"I support Kochi not because they have Sri Lankan players but they have beaten top teams like Mumbai and Chennai and good performance from a new team brings freshness to any tournament," he said.
