The 27-year-old Malinga said
he would still be available for one-day and Twenty20 internationals but did not
want to risk permanently injuring his right knee by playing in the longer
version of the game.
“Although I am sufficiently fit to play both ODI and T20
cricket, I have a long-standing degenerative condition in my right knee that
needs to be carefully managed,” Malinga said in a statement.
“I have carefully considered
my options and have decided that not playing test cricket will help me achieve
my goal of representing Sri Lanka in the 2012 World Twenty20 and the 2015 World
Cup.” Sri Lanka Cricket said it is unaware of Malinga's decision.
Malinga recently made himself
unavailable for Sri Lanka for the team's three tests in England this summer,
saying he would not be fit enough, but has continued to feature in the
lucrative Indian Premier League for Mumbai Indians.
That sparked a
club-versus-country debate, with Sri Lanka chief selector Duleep Mendis saying
the situation was “awkward” and preferring Malinga to begin a rehabilitation
program rather than carry on playing in the IPL.
Malinga said he first
sustained damage to his knee while playing in a one-day series in Australia in
2008. He has only played two tests since then, both against India last year.
“I did try to return to test
cricket after a three-year absence last year following requests from the team
management and the selectors, but it left me unfit nursing severe knee pain for
two months,” Malinga said.
“I have realized that the
heavy workload of Test cricket, which requires a fast bowler to be able to bowl
more than 15 overs, sometimes on consecutive days, could lead to permanent
injury.” Malinga played 30 tests, taking 101 wickets at an average of 33.15
after making his debut in 2004.
He has a much better record
in the shorter formats and he starred for Sri Lanka in the team's run to the
final of the World Cup this month, where it lost to India.
Malinga has taken 127 wickets
in 84 ODIS, at 26.38. In T20 internationals, he has 35 victims in 29 matches.
