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Separamadu Lasith Malinga, born on August 28, 1983 in Galle, Sri Lanka, is a Sri Lankan cricketer who plays in most test, warm-up and T20 matches for the Sri Lankan national team. He is sometimes referred to as the Sri Lankan Muttu (derived from his initials SLM), as well as Slinger Malinga, due to his largely unorthodox bowling action.

Separamadu Lasith Malinga, born on August 28, 1983 in Galle, Sri Lanka, is a Sri Lankan [[Cricket|cricketer]] who plays in most test, warm-up and T20 matches for the Sri Lankan national team. He is sometimes referred to as the [[Sri Lanka]]n Muttu (derived from his initials SLM), as well as Slinger Malinga, due to his largely unorthodox bowling action.

His unique bowling action, which no-one else is known to use except him, involves a side-arm chucking action, just as one might slap someone in the face. There does remain some doubt as to the coinage of his nickname of 'Slinger Malinga'. Most say that it is due to his 'sling-like' bowling action; however some of his closer friends, including his brother, claim that as a child, he used to practise this action so much that once he twisted his elbow, and had to wear a sling for five months after this. Malinga is the most recent addition to a whole host of Sri Lankan bowlers, including Muralitharan, Jayawardene and Mendis, whose bowling actions have been viewed as highly controversial. Many prominent bowlers and ex-bowlers, such as Alan Donald, Jonty Rhodes, Ollie Seechun and the Da Silva brothers Aravinda and Chamara have vociferously spoken out against this action. Nevertheless, the ICC approved of his action, despite the wishes of the BCCSL; it is however alleged that the approval is wholly dependent on the annual payment of a hefty sum of several thousand Sri Lankan rupees by Malinga to the ICC, though both parties have strenuously denied the existence of such a hefty payment.  

His unique bowling action, which no-one else is known to use except him, involves a side-arm chucking action, just as one might slap someone in the face. There does remain some doubt as to the coinage of his nickname of 'Slinger Malinga'. Most say that it is due to his 'sling-like' bowling action; however some of his closer friends, including his brother, claim that as a child, he used to practise this action so much that once he twisted his elbow, and had to wear a sling for five months after this. Malinga is the most recent addition to a whole host of Sri Lankan bowlers, including Muralitharan, Jayawardene and Mendis, whose bowling actions have been viewed as highly controversial. Many prominent bowlers and ex-bowlers, such as Alan Donald, Jonty Rhodes, Ollie Seechun and the Da Silva brothers Aravinda and Chamara have vociferously spoken out against this action. Nevertheless, the ICC approved of his action, despite the wishes of the BCCSL; it is however alleged that the approval is wholly dependent on the annual payment of a hefty sum of several thousand Sri Lankan rupees by Malinga to the ICC, though both parties have strenuously denied the existence of such a hefty payment.  

In all forms of the game, Malinga has taken nearly 200 wickets. Although this might seem a reasonably high figure, his commitment to his bowling has been queried in the past, due to the fact that he has scored more than double this number of runs, leading to critics stating that he focuses too much on his batting, despite being a specialist bowler. This has resulted in him being dropped from the test squad, although he continues to feature regulary in the warm-up and ODI squads for his country.

In all forms of the game, Malinga has taken nearly 200 wickets. Although this might seem a reasonably high figure, his commitment to his bowling has been queried in the past, due to the fact that he has scored more than double this number of runs, leading to critics stating that he focuses too much on his batting, despite being a specialist bowler. This has resulted in him being dropped from the test squad, although he continues to feature regulary in the warm-up and ODI squads for his country.