Matheesha Pathirana of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has had an outstanding IPL season thus far. With his unconventional action and quick speed, the Sri Lankan player has made it difficult for batsmen to face him. He, like his predecessor Lasith Malinga, is a lethal death bowler.
Pathirana missed the first round of IPL 2023 matches owing to national service but has settled in nicely under MS Dhoni’s supervision. He was named player of the match in CSK’s recent win against the Mumbai Indians (MI) for his bowling figures of 3-15, which helped limit the opposition to 139-7 in the first innings.
CSK skipper Dhoni praised his performance and emphasised that Pathirana should focus entirely on the shortest format and not play red-ball cricket.
During the post-match presentation, Dhoni stated:
“People who don’t have a very clean action batters find it difficult to pick them. It is not the pace or variations, but the consistency. I would prefer him not to play red-ball cricket and play all the ICC tournaments, he would be a great asset for Sri Lanka. He was slightly lean last season and has added muscle this season.”
The right-arm fast bowler has yet to make his test debut, and here are 3 reasons why he should not
1) Playing Tests with such action will cut short his career
Playing all three forms for the national team as well as franchise cricket becomes a physically demanding schedule for a player’s physique, especially for fast bowlers. Cricket has already entered an era in which players may choose whatever matches or forms they wish to play.
Test cricket may not be good for someone who easily gets hurt because of the physical demands of the sport. While nostalgia may encourage him to pursue this path, logical thinking suggests that he focus on mastering what he already has.
He has mastered the art of death bowling in white-ball cricket, something many experienced players still struggle with. Given that bowling full and quick is his genuine skill, he should stick to the shortest format for the sake of his career rather than conventional line-length bowling and moving the ball.
In addition, playing Test cricket involves bowling lengthy and difficult stints, which can lead to injury. A fast bowler’s career can be ruined by an awful injury, and while no one can avoid injuries forever, his chances are greater if he avoids red-ball cricket.
2) Malinga’s unremarkable Test career serves as an example of what he should avoid doing.
Even before Pathirana made his first-class debut, comparisons to renowned Sri Lanka seamer Lasith Malinga were common. The remarkable resemblance in the bowling actions of the two men made it difficult for spectators and experts to ignore.
Malinga was well-known for his death bowling ability and built a name for himself in white-ball cricket. Test cricket was his first introduction to international cricket. He did not make much of an impact though since he only played 30 Tests taking 101 wickets at an average of 33.15.
Malinga’s Test career, which ended in 2011, serves as a clear caution to Pathirana not to go down that road.
3) Many T20 leagues worldwide will likely seek his services.
Pathirana has been outstanding for CSK this season, and now that he has established his worth at the top level, he will be in great demand across all leagues.
Pathirana is a major prospect, thanks to the increasing number of franchise-based T20 tournaments and the fact that the shortest format is flourishing.
He may still aid his country by participating in key events, but his workload must be monitored because he is likely to be in demand throughout the year, according to the cricketing calendar.