Big set back for Lanka, star bowler Malinga ruled out against Kiwis

St George's, Grenada, Apr 11 (UNI) Sri Lanka suffered a huge setback as their star fast bowler Lasith Malinga was ruled out to play against New Zealand in their Super Eight match here tomorrow due to an ankle injury.

Malinga suffered a torn ligament in his left ankle during training and it was decided by the team management that he should not be risked further damage by playing him tomorrow.

Team manager Michael Tissera said, ''He's very keen to play but we've told him 'no'.'' Farveez Maharoof or Nuwan Kulasekera will take Malinga's place as Lanka try to end New Zealand's unbeaten streak.

The Kiwis, meanwhile, have to decide whether to recall batsman Ross Taylor, who is fit again after missing four matches with a hamstring injury.

''We've been carrying some good form for an extended period of time and when you're in that mindset, you don't worry about losing, you keep performing,'' vice-captain Daniel Vettori told reporters.

''We know if we come through these games, we'll be in a good position with a chance of going all the way. You can't put a price on confidence and that's how the team feels at the moment -- there are guys who are playing exceptionally well.

''Sri Lanka are a very strong team and we've always had the feeling that sub-continent teams come to New Zealand and struggle, but they certainly didn't when they toured us recently and if anything, they were better than us in our conditions. That doesn't happen very often.

''They have a very strong bowling line-up and once you've got that in one-day cricket, you're ahead in the game. If they use all those players well, they are going to be dangerous,'' Vettori said.

Sri Lanka wicket-keeper and vice captain Kumar Sangakkara admitted that New Zealand has a long batting order and added ''we're going to approach the match the way we did in New Zealand -- compete with them every step and play a Sri Lankan brand of cricket.'' ''Most of the times we've gone wrong is when we've changed our game and that's foolish. We established a Sri Lankan brand of cricket (by winning the World Cup) in 1996 and that's how we want to play,'' Sangakkara said.

''It's an attitude of going out positively, balancing aggression with a professional approach. We play attacking, sometimes flamboyant cricket, but a disciplined game.'' About how to deal with Kiwi fast bowler Shane Bond, he said ''he is one person you have to respect'' but insisted it was up to individual batsmen to work out their own way to combat him.

''We can talk all day about Bond and his outswingers, but the important thing is to be mentally prepared to face that on the day and overcome the challenge. We did well in New Zealand on tracks that helped him. Tracks here are slower and less prone to movement,'' Sangakkara said.

UNI