[VIDEOS/PICTURES] Sri Lanka fast-bowler Matheesha Pathirana who bowls like Lasith Malinga

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There is no doubt that Lasith Malinga is one of the all-time greats of limited-overs cricket. Having retired from ODIs in July 2019, the 36-year-old gave everyone ample proof of his greatness by picking 4 wickets in 4 balls in a T20I against New Zealand on September 6. No doubt, the bowler has inspired many young turks with his slinging bowling action, funky hairstyles and the hunger for wickets.

In a video which has recently surfaced on the internet, it is claimed that a 17-year-old Sri Lankan pacer, who seems inspired by the great man, took 6 wickets for just 7 runs in a college game. Playing for Trinity College, Kandy, Matheesha Pathirana can be seen bowling deadly yorkers to fox the batsmen.

In the video, it is evident that Pathirana bowls with a similar slinging arm like Malinga's. Also, his pinpoint yorkers rattling the stumps are quite reminiscent of Malinga disturbing the furniture behind the batsmen quite often in his heyday.

It is also surprising that Pathirana is doing this in his debut match for Trinity College. If the young pacer can continue like this, it shouldn't be a surprise that he could be seen in the Lankan colours in the very near future.

Earlier this year, Malinga finished as the 3rd highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket for Sri Lanka with 338 wickets in 220 innings with only Muttiah Muralitharan (523) and Chaminda Vaas (399) above him on the list.

Between 2006 and 2013, no other bowler took more wickets than Malinga's 267, this despite him missing 15 months of action in 2008-09 owing to knee troubles.

Malinga also finished as the team's highest wicket-taker during the recently concluded World Cup 2019 where he took 13 scalps in 7 innings. Malinga is also the only bowler to have taken 2 World Cup hat-tricks (2007 vs South Africa, 2011 vs Kenya). He had already retired from Test in 2011.

https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cr...ideo-trinity-college-match-1603835-2019-09-27
 
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The beauty of Sri Lankan cricket - unorthodox and unique cricketers.
 
Malinga was effective with that action before the two new balls came into the equation and Ofcourse when he had pace as well. Once his pace deserted him, he was not the same bowler
 
His action isn't anywhere near as smooth as Malinga's it's a lot more slingy and he seems to be jerking his whole body, he will get injured soon. Also really needs to work on his celebration.
 
His action isn't anywhere near as smooth as Malinga's it's a lot more slingy and he seems to be jerking his whole body, he will get injured soon. Also really needs to work on his celebration.

I fear for an injury - needs proper coaching.
 
Looks like a great prospect. SL needs some good fast bowlers after the likes of Lakmal retire.
 
Needs a lot of work but he is U19 so he has time. However, his progress will be dependent upon how naturally his action comes to him as Malinga didnt try to emulate and naturally developed that action. I think its difficult to develop when you are trying to force uniqueness by bowling from both arms, unique action etc but, if it comes naturally than its much easier to work upon.
 
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have kicked-off their preparations for the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The likes of captain MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu, and Ruturaj Gaikwad among others are already in Chennai and have begun their preparations of the new season that gets underway from April 10 this year.

CSK had a horrific campaign in IPL 2020 in UAE last year where they failed to make it to the playoffs for the first time in their history and finished a lowly seventh in the points table. This year, CSK will be hoping to bounce back having bolstered their squad in the IPL 2021 player auction which was conducted in February this year.

CSK roped in the likes of Moeen Ali, Krishnappa Gowtham, and Cheteshwar Pujara among others to strengthen their squad and will be looking to get off to a good start in the tournament this year. Apart from the quality additions at the auction, CSK have also called up two uncapped Sri Lankan pacers for their ongoing training camp in Chennai.

Young Sri Lankan bowlers Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana have been called up by CSK, as per a report in Sri Lankan news outlet NewsWire. The two pacers have been added as reserve players and will not be part of the main squad. They will be helping the CSK batsmen prepare for the new season by bowling to them in the nets.

Pathirana, who has often been touted as the new 'Malinga' from Sri Lanka, had created waves with the pace and action at the U-19 World Cup last year. Pathirana's sling action resembles that of Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga and his action is almost a reflection of the Sri Lanka great.

During the U-19 World Cup in January this year, Pathirana bowled a wide delivery to India's Yashasvi Jaiswal which was recorded at a stunning 175kph (108mph) making it the fastest delivery clocked in international cricket across all formats. However, it turned out there was an error in the recording which kept former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar's record of fastest delivery in international cricket intact.

Pathirana will gain immense experience from bowling at the likes of Dhoni, Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Faf du Plessis among others in the CSK nets.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...ake-part-in-training-camp-ahead-of-ipl/730712

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19 Years old Matheesha Pathirana against Kuwait U19 team during the first match between Sri Lanka VS Kuwait of ACC U19 Asia Cup held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 80%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/jyew2h" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
Love to see that glossy sheen in the Sharjah wicket again, so reminiscent of the 1990s. The sheen somehow exacerbates pace and bounce.

Always wondered how they could prepare a pitch like that, Sabina Park was the other venue with a pitch on which one could see the batsman's reflection, almost like a mirror.
 
[PICTURES] Sri Lanka's Matheesha Pathirana, bowler with a Lasith Malinga style action

Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana impressed in his debut game for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Sunday. Pathirana dismissed Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya to finish with figures of 2 for 24 off 3.1 overs.

Pathirana


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The inclusion of Pathirana, who came into the Super Kings squad as a replacement for Adam Milne lasth month, was one of four changes made in the playing eleven by the team management. The 19 year old, with an unusual, jerky bowling action, dismissed Shubman Gill off the first delivery of his spell, trapping him lbw with a delivery that skidded through after pitching on a length.

Later, Hardik turned the face of the bat too early as he tried to negotiate a full-length delivery on off-stump and was dismissed for 7, the ball ballooning off the ridge of the bat to the fielder at mid-off.

Pathirana played the U-19 World Cup earlier this year for Sri Lanka, picking up seven wickets in four matches. Besides his effectiveness with the ball, the resemblance to Lasith Malinga in terms of his bowling action is also a striking feature of his bowling.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...uper-kings-shubman-hardik/article38492290.ece
 
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Sri Lanka provisional T20I squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Guanathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Niroshan Dickwella, Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Sahan Aarachchi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Kasun Rajitha, Nipun Malinga, Lahiru Kumara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan
 
I think he will achieve some success in the beginning of his international career because of his action but will fade away after sometime like Ajantha Mendis. :inti
 
His arm seems even lower than Malinga's. Good luck to him but my shoulder and hip hurts just watching clips of his bowling.

There's others who will know better than me but I feel a critical component of bowling is about having a smooth, rhythmical action you can repeat over and over again that limits the stress on the body.

Whatever short-term success you get from these unorthodox actions is often countered by the strain they place on the body. Look at Jasprit Bumrah's injury record. Malinga himself missed so much cricket through injury.
 
This should not be easy for the batters to play against such a weird action.
 
Woah ! Matheesha, claiming the title of highest wicket-taker showcases his talent.

WhatsApp Image 2023-09-18 at 10.58.49.jpg
 
Gotta feel sorry for this guy. Injected into internationals little too early. Speed is there. No control.

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In 2023 IPL his record is also worse

most-wides-and-no-balls-bowled-in-ipl-2023-v0-c2qc3msgo03b1.jpg
 
No control, no composure. That makes you a liability in a pressure run defence.
 
Gotta feel for the guy, very expensive figures in succesive games now. Hope the kid can bounce back somehow.
 
Matheesha Pathirana has recorded a speed of 152.1 KMPH in a ILT20 game against Sharjah Warriors.

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Decent pace but an action which puts too much strain on the body. These type of bowlers don't last long plus they can't develop the ability to seam or swing the ball. Only good for T20 leagues.
 
After an excellent first over, it became a night to forget for Matheesha Pathirana. He has become a run machine for Sri Lanka.

1709584687745.png
 
Ravichandran Ashwin pinpoints a major risk with Matheesha Pathirana's action in his YouTube video:

"One problem that he has but Malinga doesn’t have is that his angle of release is much lower. That puts immense strain on his back, and his front leg literally collapses when he releases the ball; the core gets worked up too much, and it is very strenuous. Lasith Malinga goes for a beautiful side-on position. His back and feet will be parallel to the crease. But Pathirana doesn’t get that. The action is breaking, it is rotating, and the torque is huge."

"In the recent T20I vs. Bangladesh, it felt like he was straining too much. His hamstring was gone straight. Many people do not understand that everything is connected to one another—his back and glutes, along with his legs. The biomechanics work together."

"I understand the complexity of facing him is different, but he’s facing different problems now. This might be just his early stages, and his body needs to fill up more, but he is getting into some dangerous positions and complications. In fact, I've worked so much with Malinga, and Malinga himself told me that he’s a great prospect, but he gets into awkward positions, which is what I feel."
 
Ravichandran Ashwin pinpoints a major risk with Matheesha Pathirana's action in his YouTube video:

"One problem that he has but Malinga doesn’t have is that his angle of release is much lower. That puts immense strain on his back, and his front leg literally collapses when he releases the ball; the core gets worked up too much, and it is very strenuous. Lasith Malinga goes for a beautiful side-on position. His back and feet will be parallel to the crease. But Pathirana doesn’t get that. The action is breaking, it is rotating, and the torque is huge."

"In the recent T20I vs. Bangladesh, it felt like he was straining too much. His hamstring was gone straight. Many people do not understand that everything is connected to one another—his back and glutes, along with his legs. The biomechanics work together."

"I understand the complexity of facing him is different, but he’s facing different problems now. This might be just his early stages, and his body needs to fill up more, but he is getting into some dangerous positions and complications. In fact, I've worked so much with Malinga, and Malinga himself told me that he’s a great prospect, but he gets into awkward positions, which is what I feel."
Ashwin is right and I mentioned this last Sep. These unusual actions are rare for a reason.

They put excess strain on the body. Pathirana's arm is even lower than Malinga's. It's no wonder he's already spent a significant chunk of his career on the treatment table.
 
Ravichandran Ashwin pinpoints a major risk with Matheesha Pathirana's action in his YouTube video:

"One problem that he has but Malinga doesn’t have is that his angle of release is much lower. That puts immense strain on his back, and his front leg literally collapses when he releases the ball; the core gets worked up too much, and it is very strenuous. Lasith Malinga goes for a beautiful side-on position. His back and feet will be parallel to the crease. But Pathirana doesn’t get that. The action is breaking, it is rotating, and the torque is huge."

"In the recent T20I vs. Bangladesh, it felt like he was straining too much. His hamstring was gone straight. Many people do not understand that everything is connected to one another—his back and glutes, along with his legs. The biomechanics work together."

"I understand the complexity of facing him is different, but he’s facing different problems now. This might be just his early stages, and his body needs to fill up more, but he is getting into some dangerous positions and complications. In fact, I've worked so much with Malinga, and Malinga himself told me that he’s a great prospect, but he gets into awkward positions, which is what I feel."

Ashwin looking to go into punditry after realising he is as effective as Hartley and Bashir on home pitches
 
Matheesha Pathirana, the star bowler for Chennai Super Kings during the final overs, won’t be playing at the beginning of IPL 2024 because of a hamstring injury. This 21-year-old bowler from Sri Lanka got hurt during the second T20I against Bangladesh in Sylhet earlier this month, and he couldn’t complete his bowling turn because of it.
 
I'm glad he has added more muscle. Previously he looked incredibly skinny. I think with a bowler like him there's always going to be that element of surprise...kind of like a mystery spinner. But I think with that super slingy action and the pace he is bowling at now, I see an even higher likability of injuries in the future. Malinga's action was far more coordinated than the numerous people he has inspired.

Dhoni hit the nail on the head when he said that he should only be used by Sri Lanka for ICC tournaments. He was talking more from an element of surprise POV. But I think it applies just as well in regards to managing injuries. But judging by Sri Lanka's fast-bowling stocks, I don't think they will do that.
 
Matheesha Pathirana is now a much improved bowler, consistently delivering yorkers.
 
Matheesha Pathirana is now a much improved bowler, consistently delivering yorkers.
3 wickets for 31 runs in 4 overs, and takes a one-handed diving catch to dismiss David Warner. He has done a brilliant job tonight against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024.
 
Really quick and has a mean Yorker but he might end up being a T20 merchant only . These actions tend to be very hard on the back.
 
Returning to the XI after an injury, bowling with dew at the Wankhede against MI in IPL 2024

First ball: Dismisses Ishan Kishan
Second ball: Dot
Third ball: Dismisses Suryakumar Yadav

matheesha pathirana is CSK's hero
 
Matheesha Pathirana bagged the Player of the Match award for his brilliant 4-wicket haul as Chennai sealed a win over MI.

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Matheesha Pathirana returns to Sri Lanka to recover from injury

Chennai Super Kings pacer Matheesha Pathirana is nursing a hamstring injury and will be returning to Sri Lanka for further recovery.

The right-arm pacer played six matches in IPL 2024 picking up 13 wickets at an economy of 7.68.

 
What do you think? Does he chuck? I have closely watched the bowling video and I guess his action is fine.
 
Matheesha Pathirana

in the first over: 0/13

in the last three overs: 4/27

He secured figures of 4/40 in 4 overs against India in 1st T20I

EmWa5Im.jpg
 
What do you think? Does he chuck? I have closely watched the bowling video and I guess his action is fine.
Seems fine to me. But I am worried about his health lol. I wouldn't recommend that action to anyone lol
 
He should stick to T20. SL ruined him by playing in ODIs. His style doesn't suit one dayers tleast for now. Oncxe he gains experience he can be experimented there. In T20 there are no room for dot balls. So they will take risks. That is where his fast yorkers can be handy.
 
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