Lasith Malinga enters the World Cup

London: Lasith Malinga's once-express pace has dropped as Father Time quickly catches up with the right arm, but his ruse should propel him to a few individual milestones at his fourth and final cricket world cup.

Malinga, who turns 36 in August, is poised to break into the top 10 international single-stop takers, with a total of 322 points, just behind former teammate Sanath Jayasuriya.

Muttiah Muralitharan is at the top of the list with 534 wickets.

Malinga also took three ODI hat tricks and is the only player to have reached the milestone twice at a World Cup.

His first hat trick in the World Cup took place when he sacked four South African drummers in four balls in Guyana in 2007 – the only player to have achieved this feat in the tournament.

He then took another hat trick against Kenya four years later in Colombo. He added that it would be nice to add a third in England and Wales, but he was eager to take the wickets when Sri Lanka began his campaign against New Zealand in Cardiff June 1.

"I know I have the skills to take the wickets and (this) gives me confidence," Malinga told the International Cricket Council's website. "One of the things I love about the game in England is that you have to adapt to all conditions.

"It can be very hot or very cold and it's a real test of your skills as a bowler.

"Why can not I have another hat trick I'll try and it'll be special." Malinga has already announced that his fourth Cricket World Cup would be his last. He is aiming for an international retirement after the World Twenty20 tournament in Australia next year.

However, he will continue to anchor the pace attack with his ability to crush fast-swinging yorkers and well-directed pace changes.

The 1996 champions had difficulties in the 50 format this year, having lost eight of their nine games ended, their only win against Scotland in Edinburgh.

Malinga however felt that his team might surprise opposition teams in the round robin format.

"In previous years we might have bigger names, but these guys are very talented and they can not wait to prove themselves and make people notice them," he said.

"We currently have the top 15 players in Sri Lanka and we have a mix of more experienced players and exciting young players, who are eager to start."