Lasith Malinga, of the unconventional slinging action, hasn't played for Sri Lanka since the triangular series in Australia towards the end of February, battling a right knee injury that will keep him out of cricket at least till the end of the year.

His unorthodox action and searing pace combined to make him a genuine strike force that lent added teeth to a Sri Lankan attack reliant heavily on Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan. Malinga was one of the key forces that propelled the Lankans to the final of the World Cup last year but today, the 24-year-old is uncertain when, or indeed whether, he will play for the country again.

"The prospect of not playing for Sri Lanka again scares me. The problem is that we have a very good team right now. From time to time, I get the feeling there is no chance of me making a comeback," Malinga admitted, then quickly added, "I know I am good enough to play for Sri Lanka but I am not sure that after injury when I return, I will be able to make it back to the national side. But I will try hard after my recovery. I will try to get wickets in club games and for the Sri Lanka 'A' team and try to work my way back."

Malinga spent a month in Australia as part of his rehabilitation process, which is now into its fourth month. "I don't need a surgery, I am only doing physiotherapy. They pumped some drugs into me in Australia. At the moment, the pain is getting lesser, and I think I should be fine in another 5-6 months. But I am not sure about the future, let's wait and see."

How frustrating is it for him to sit out when a Test match is about to unfold in Colombo? "I am a little upset I can't be a part of of it and I can't play. But I hope Sri Lanka wins the match. I am not sure if I will come to the SSC to watch the Test. That's not entirely out of frustration -- if I am not playing, I like to watch cricket on TV."

His injury kept him out not just of international cricket but also the Indian Premier League, and the attendant big bucks. "Every cricketer who plays the game has a bad time. I think this is my bad time," Malinga philosophised. "All I do these days is come to the gym and get myself treated. Other than that, I just sit at home, watching cricket and doing some house-cleaning. The most exciting match on television for me was the Asia Cup final, it was an unbelievable match."