Sri Lanka hoping Malinga can sling it their way

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Mar 16 (Reuters) Even if he had not been a cricketer, Lasith Malinga would have turned heads at the World Cup.

His bleached, straw-coloured hair, blown like a lion's mane, would have made sure of that.

However, the Sri Lankan fast bowler is drawing attention on the pitch from batsmen wary of his unusual, low-slung action.

Malinga, 23, is also quick, bowling at around 90mph, making it tough even for established batsmen to pick him.

The top-order of debutants Bermuda had no clue yesterday as Malinga's triple strikes led his team to a 243-win, the second biggest victory margin in World Cup history.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene chose Malinga to share the new ball with 33-year-old left-arm Chaminda Vaas, leaving out the struggling Dilhara Fernando from the lineup. He took 3-10.

The next group games against Bangladesh and India should test him more but Malinga has made the initial impact.

EXTRA DIMENSION Jayawardene expects Malinga to provide the third dimension alongside Vaas and spinner Muralitharan in the tournament which ends with the final in Barbados on April 28.

''The last six months have been exciting for us with Lasith,'' he said. ''He has given us more attacking options.'' He was consistently quick against Bermuda, but Jayawardene said Malinga had held back a bit on his tournament debut.

''He showed a lot of aggression but bowled within himself,'' he said. ''The wicket suited his bowling.'' Malinga's action caused consternation in New Zealand in 2005 when the home team asked umpires to change their trousers and push their ties over their shoulders to help spot the ball.

Hailing from the southern coastal town of Galle, Malinga grew up swimming and climbing coconut trees, not picking up a cricket ball until he was 17.

He soon became one of the quickest bowlers in Sri Lanka.

On his test debut in Australia in 2004, he removed Darren Lehmann and Adam Gilchrist in one over, taking six wickets in the match.

His one-day prowess came to the fore in England last year after he grabbed 13 wickets to help sweep the series 5-0.

He has taken 71 wickets in 21 tests and 42 from 29 ODIs.

''He bowls in the good areas and Vaas keeps at the batsmen all the time,'' Jayawardene said.

''With his action and the pace he generates, he is always asking questions.'' With Vaas having lost his old pace, Malinga could be the one to answer the prayers of the 1996 champions.

REUTERS DH PM0318